It’s hard to imagine right now, with sunny skies and perfect fall-like temperatures, but we are starting to enter the seasons where we’ll have to worry about winter weather, and the National Weather Service in Paducah is putting out some information now.
In a recent Winter Weather Awareness Event, Lead Forecaster Keith Cooley took the time to explain what the new verbiage will be when certain advisories, watches and warnings are issued in the winter time. A new one will be doing away with Wind Chill Warnings and Advisories and will be replacing them with Cold Weather Advisories, with Cooley saying it will have a broader scope.
They’ll also have Extreme Cold Warnings for when the temps drop to ten degrees below freezing or lower.
They’ll keep the same warnings and advisories they’ve always had when it comes to winter storm warnings, watches or advisories. Cooley says the differences in those comes down to possible impacts and how confident they are that impacts will occur.
Cooley says those winter weather system can be downright tricky to try and forecast, as the slightest changes in wind direction, temperatures and pressure can determine what kind of precipitation you’ll get, and if you’ll even get any at all.
The National Weather Service is posting winter weather educational information on their Facebook page, if you’re interested in finding more information.