The Hazard Simplification project aims to simplify weather news

Cold weather can be deadly – ​​people exposed to extreme cold are susceptible to frostbite and can succumb to hypothermia within minutes. As we prepare for the frigid wind chills and subfreezing temperatures that winter can bring, NOAA’s National Weather Service is simplifying a range of cold weather forecast products to improve reporting of winter hazards and provide better decision support.

This effort is part of the Hazard Simplification Initiative, which integrates public and partner engagements and social science research to improve and further develop our warning system.

The following changes will take place on October 1st:

Extreme cold consolidation and renaming

• Wind Chill watches will be renamed Extreme Cold Watch
• “Wind Chill Warnings” will be renamed “Extreme Cold Warning.”
• Wind Chill Advisory is renamed Cold Weather Advisory

Freeze consolidation

• “Hard Freeze Watches” are renamed “Freeze Watch”.
• Severe frost warnings are combined into a frost warning

These changes are intended to clarify that cold weather can be dangerous with or without wind, and to dispel a common misconception that extreme cold is associated with colder temperatures only when there is wind. Dangerously cold weather can accompany or follow winter precipitation, and the cold message can be overshadowed by the winter precipitation.

An official service change notice was published on March 26, 2024, announcing our intention to roll out these changes on the first day of October.

NOAA will release its official winter outlook on October 17, 2024.

Resources:

Extreme Cold Consolidation Data Sheet

NWS Partners and Users Cold Product Suite Changes Webinar (Recording | Slides)

Media Contact: Michael Musher, NWS Public Affairs, [email protected]