NWS to discuss possible changes to watch, warning and advisory system

NWS infographic with definitions of warning, watch, advisory and outlook

The National Weather Service (NWS) Analyze, Forecast and Support Office will host a workshop in Kansas City in October to discuss possible changes to the NWS watch, warning and advisory (WWA) system.

Workshop participants will review the results of surveys that provide insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the current WWA system, along with possible opportunities for system improvement.

The NWS intends to make any proposed changes to the WWA system available for public comment and review prior to any final decision on implementation.

The NWS is targeting this workshop at NWS staff members, emergency managers, members of America’s weather and climate industry, and social and behavioral scientists. Space is limited and participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. A registration for is at https://ocwws.weather.gov/meetings/login.php?id=110.

While I don’t intend to attend the workshop, I’m eager to learn what comes of it. The WWA system has been around for a long time, yet members of the general public continue to display confusion about the differences between watches and warnings. Further, I frequently see evidence of citizens ignoring severe thunderstorm warnings because they’re not tornado warnings, despite the fact that a severe thunderstorm can deliver winds that are stronger than a weak tornado.

And ever since the 2012 derecho event that did so much damage from the Midwest to the east coast with straight-line winds, I’ve wondered if we need a new kind of thunderstorm warning, with a wind threshold that’s higher than 50 knots (58 mph).

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