Lake Effect Snow Consolidation Extended to Eastern Region Product Description Document May 2018 Part I - Mission Connection a. Product/Service Description – During the winter of 2017-2018, the three winter precipitation Advisory products (“Winter Weather”, “Freezing Rain” and “Lake Effect Snow”) were consolidated into one “Winter Weather Advisory” product. The Freezing Rain Advisory and Lake Effect Snow Advisory products stopped being issued. Instead, information regarding these hazards was included in the “What” section of the message. The ZR.Y and LE.Y Valid Time Event Coding (VTEC) were discontinued. The three winter precipitation Watch products (“Winter Storm Watch”, “Blizzard Watch”, and “Lake Effect Snow Watch”) were combined into one “Winter Storm Watch” product. The “Blizzard Watch” and “Lake Effect Snow Watch” products were no longer issued. Instead, information regarding these hazards was contained in the “What” section of the message. The BZ.A and LE.A VTEC were discontinued. For the following selected sites in the National Weather Service (NWS) Central Region, the “Lake Effect Snow Warning” product was combined into the “Winter Storm Warning” product. These sites included the following Weather Forecast Offices: Duluth (DLH), Marquette (MQT), Green Bay (GRB), Milwaukee (MKX), Chicago (LOT), Northern Indiana (IWX), Grand Rapids (GRR), Gaylord (APX) and Detroit (DTX). The “Lake Effect Snow Warning” product was not issued at these sites. Instead, information regarding associated hazards and impacts was contained in the “What” section of the message. The LE.W VTEC was discontinued during the demonstration at these sites. Beginning October XX, 2018 and for the winter of 2018-2019, all offices will combine the “Lake Effect Snow Warning” product into the “Winter Storm Warning” product. The “Lake Effect Snow Warning” product will not be issued at any WFOs. Information regarding associated hazards and impacts will be contained in the “What” section of the message. The LE.W VTEC will be discontinued nationwide. b. Product Type – Operational. c. Purpose - One of the outcomes of the Hazard Simplification (Haz Simp) Workshop and other feedback mechanisms so far indicates strong support for an amalgamation and shortening of NWS hazard products. Currently, over 100 outlooks, watches, warnings and statements populate the official Watch/Warning/Advisory (WWA) map. This vast number of products often causes customer confusion and, in the worst cases, leads to customer 1 indifference to critical NWS life-saving information. NWS has identified a requirement to reduce the number of winter weather products as well as to simplify and shorten the information – with a focus on impacts. d. Audience - The target audiences for this product are customers and partners such as emergency managers, state and local officials including school superintendents, departments of transportation, media and the general public. e. Presentation Format – These are text based products which appear over the WWA page and all other standard dissemination methods. Some are sent via NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Customer comments or questions on the proposed new products may be addressed to: Stephen Baxter National Weather Service (NWS) Headquarters E-mail: [email protected] Part II – Technical Description a. Format and Science Basis – The format is described in Part I under “Presentation Format.” As for the scientific basis, forecasters will use available tools to determine the risk of these hazards occurring in their areas and issue according to criteria and expected impacts. b. Availability – These products will be available at all times and issued when criteria are met. Examples below: BLIZZARD WATCH: LEGACY PRODUCT MAZ024-120530- /O.NEW.KBOX.BZ.A.0001.170213T0900Z-170214T0000Z/ Nantucket MA- Including the city of Nantucket 429 PM EST Sat Feb 11 2017 ...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a Blizzard Watch...which is in effect from late Sunday night through Monday evening. * LOCATIONS...Nantucket 2 * HAZARD TYPES...Periods of Snow and Blowing Snow. * ACCUMULATIONS...2 to 4 inches of snow. * TIMING...Late Sunday night into Monday. * IMPACTS...The periods of briefly heavy snow and strong winds will create snow covered roads and produce scattered power outages. Strong winds will lead to blowing snow...reduced visibility...and additional power outages. * WINDS...Northwest 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * TEMPERATURES...In the lower 30s. * VISIBILITIES...One quarter mile or less at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Watch means there is a potential for considerable falling and/or blowing snow with sustained winds or frequent gusts over 35 mph...with visibilities below one quarter mile...for at least 3 hours. Whiteout conditions will be possible...making travel very dangerous. Be prepared to alter any travel plans. && $$ For the latest updates...please visit our webpage at www.weather.gov/boston You can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NWSBoston You can follow us on Twitter at @NWSBoston BLIZZARD WATCH: CONSOLIDATED AND RE-FORMATTED MAZ024-120530- /O.NEW.KBOX.WS.A.0001.170213T0900Z-170214T0000Z/ Nantucket MA- Including the city of Nantucket 429 PM EST Sat Feb 11 2017 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... 3 * WHAT...Blizzard Conditions Possible. Snow and blowing snow accumulating 2 to 4 inches. Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph possible. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times. * WHERE...Nantucket * WHEN...Late Sunday night through Monday. *ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Heavy snow and strong winds will create snow covered roads, limited visibilities and produce scattered power outages. Whiteout conditions will be possible making travel very dangerous. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For the latest updates, please visit our webpage at www.weather.gov/boston. You can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NWSBoston. You can follow us on Twitter at @NWSBoston. && $$ LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY LEGACY PRODUCT OHZ010-011-013-020>022-031100- /O.NEW.KCLE.LE.Y.0008.170303T0324Z-170303T1100Z/ Lorain-Cuyahoga-Geauga-Medina-Summit-Portage- Including the cities of Lorain, Cleveland, Chardon, Medina, Akron, and Ravenna 1024 PM EST Thu Mar 2 2017 ...LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY... The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a Lake Effect Snow Advisory, which is in effect until 6 AM EST Friday. * Accumulations...3 to 5 inches of snow. * TIMING...Heaviest snow will occur through 3 am but will likely linger until around sunrise. * IMPACTS...Snow showers and squalls will lower visibility to a quarter mile with snow accumulation on roadways causing hazardous travel conditions. * Winds...Northwest 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. 4 * Temperatures...In the lower 20s. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Lake Effect Snow Advisory is issued when lake-effect snow is forecast that may make travel difficult in some areas. During lake effect snow...the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can vary greatly. If you will be traveling in the advisory area be prepared for rapid changes in weather...visibility and road conditions. && $$ LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY CONSOLIDATED AND RE-FORMATTED OHZ010-011-013-020>022-031100- /O.NEW.KCLE.WW.Y.0008.170303T0324Z-170303T1100Z/ Lorain-Cuyahoga-Geauga-Medina-Summit-Portage- Including the cities of Lorain, Cleveland, Chardon, Medina, Akron, and Ravenna 1024 PM EST Thu Mar 2 2017 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Lake Effect Snow Expected. Three to five inches of snow with squalls lowering visibility to a quarter mile. Gusty northwest winds and temperatures in the lower 20s. *WHERE...Cleveland and surrounding areas. *WHEN...Heaviest through 3 am but snow lingering until around sunrise. *ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow accumulation on roadways will cause hazardous travel conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can vary greatly. If you will be traveling in the advisory area…be prepared for rapid changes in weather...visibility and road conditions. && $$ 5 .