The National Weather Service (NWS) is responsible for issuing Winter Weather Watches, Warnings, and Advisories to alert the public when dangerous winter conditions are expected. The NWS has made some simplifying changes this year to its winter weather products.

• Freezing Rain – Rain that freezes upon contact with a cold surface. Freezing rain creates a glaze of ice.
• Sleet – Solid grains of ice formed from rain that freezes before reaching the ground. These pellets of ice tend to bounce upon contact and may accumulate enough to cover the ground, even to depth of several inches.

Snow Intensity and Visibility

• Light – Greater than 1/2 statue mile
• Moderate  – 1/4 to 1/2 statue mile
• Heavy – less than 1/4 statue mile
• Snow Squall – An intense fall of accumulating snow, reducing visibility significantly and often accompanied by increased winds.

Watches ● Warnings ● Advisories

• Watch - The potential exists for a significant/dangerous weather event.
• Warning – A significant/dangerous weather event is imminent.
• Advisory – A less severe winter weather event that is imminent.
• Hazardous Weather Outlook – The outlook is given when forecasters believe winter storm conditions are possible. This is usually issued 48-72 hours in advance of a winter storm.
• Short Term Forecast - Describes the weather in the local area and includes a short-range forecast (usually not more than six hours). This product will be updated more frequently when it is used during active weather. This product is also sometimes referred to as a "NOWcast."

Watches

The potential exists for a significant/dangerous weather event. Usually issued between 12 and 48 hours before a weather event.

• Blizzard Watch - alerts the public to the potential for blizzard conditions. Watches are usually issued 12 to 48 hours before the beginning of blizzard conditions.
• High Wind Watch – issued when there is the potential for dangerous winds.
• Lake Effect Snow Watch – issued when there is a potential for a significant lake effect snow event.
• Wind Chill Watch – issued when there is a potential for dangerous wind chill values.
• Winter Storm Watch - alerts the public to the potential for heavy snow, significant icing or a combination of these events. Watches are usually issued 12 to 48 hours before the beginning of a winter storm.

Warnings

• A significant/dangerous weather event is imminent. Usually issued 6-18 hours prior to the weather event.
• Blizzard Warning - issued for sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities below one-fourth mile. These conditions usually persist for at least three hours.
• High Wind Warning – issued for when sustained winds will be 40 mph or greater for at least one hour, or any gust of wind expected to be 58 mph or greater.
• Ice Storm Warning – issued if the event will be entirely ice accrual.
  Criteria: ice accumulation of ¼ inch or more from freezing rain and damage expected.
• Lake Effect Snow Warning - issued for the snow-belt of Northeast Ohio when lake effect snow is expected to accumulate to six inches or more in 12 hours or less, or eight inches of snow in 24 hours or less.
• Wind Chill Warning – issued for dangerous, life-threatening wind chills below minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Winter Storm Warning - issued if the event will be entirely heavy snowfall.
  Criteria: Approximately six inches of snow is expected in 12 hours or less across Northern Ohio, and four to five inches in 12 hours across Central and Southern Ohio; or approximately eight inches or more of snow in 24 hours or less across Northern Ohio and six inches or more of snow in 24 hours across Southern Ohio. Also issued when a combination of heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, heavy sleet or blowing and drifting snow is expected to occur.

Advisories

Highlight weather conditions that are less than a warning. Advisories are for events that might cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property. Usually issued 6-18 hours prior to the weather event.

• Dense Fog Advisory - issued when widespread fog will reduce visibility to one-fourth mile or less.
• Freezing Rain Advisory – issued for freezing rain or freezing drizzle: any accretion or accumulation up to one-fourth inch.
• Lake Effect Snow Advisory - issued when four to five inches of snow is expected to fall over the snow belt of Northeast Ohio in 12 hours or less.
• High Wind Advisory - issued when sustained winds are expected to be 31 - 39 mph for at least an hour, or any wind gust between 46 and 57 mph.
• Wind Chill Advisory - issued when wind chill temperatures are expected to be 10 to 24 degrees below zero for an extended period of time.
• Winter Weather Advisory - issued for any combination of accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle or sleet that will cause significant inconvenience and moderately dangerous conditions. Also issued when visibilities from blowing snow or a combination of snow and blowing snow will be reduced to one-quarter mile or less. Also issued for snow when expected to accumulate three to five inches in 12 hours in Northern Ohio and two to three inches in 12 hours in Central and Southern Ohio.