NWS Explains Winter Storm and Extreme Cold Watches as Major Multi‑State Storm Looms
As a major multi‑state winter storm threatens millions with snow, ice and extreme cold, the National Weather Service is issuing winter storm and extreme cold watches to signal elevated risk while timing and location are still being refined, with warnings to follow when confidence is high and preparations should be finishing. NWS officials stress that criteria are region‑specific (what counts as “extreme cold” in Georgia differs from North Dakota), offer local guidance — for example Dallas–Fort Worth advises insulating outdoor faucets, leaving indoor faucets dripping and locating the home shut‑off ahead of 0–28°F forecasts — and urge people to check their local NWS office by ZIP code and begin stocking fuel, winter survival kits and driving precautions when watches are posted.
📌 Key Facts
- NWS forecaster Richard Bann says criteria for terms like “extreme cold” are region‑specific — thresholds differ (for example, Georgia vs. North Dakota) because residents’ acclimatization to freezing temperatures varies.
- The NWS explains the difference between watches and warnings: a winter storm watch means medium confidence a storm will bring significant snow or ice (prepare and stay alert), while a winter storm warning means high confidence and you should be finishing preparations.
- Similarly, an extreme cold watch means dangerous cold and wind chills are possible with timing or location still uncertain, whereas an extreme cold warning means extremely dangerous cold or wind chills are expected or occurring and people are advised to avoid going outside.
- The Dallas–Fort Worth NWS office warns of forecast lows around 0–28°F from Friday through Tuesday and gives specific steps to prevent pipe/freeze damage: cover outdoor faucets, leave indoor faucets dripping and cabinets open, and know how to find your home’s water shut‑off valve.
- The NWS advises people to check active local watches and warnings by entering their ZIP code on the NWS homepage and to begin preparations when watches are issued (assemble winter survival kits, top up fuel, and take driving precautions).
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A precautionary, practical commentary urging readers to treat winter‑storm watches as preparation time, follow local NWS warnings, stock supplies, winterize homes/vehicles, and plan for power outages and carbon‑monoxide risks during the major multi‑state storm."
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- NWS forecaster Richard Bann explains that criteria for terms like 'extreme cold' are region‑specific, with Georgia using different thresholds than North Dakota because residents are less accustomed to freezing temperatures.
- The article clarifies the difference between a winter storm watch ('confidence is medium' a storm will bring significant snow/ice) and a winter storm warning ('confidence is high' and preparations should be finishing).
- It distinguishes an extreme cold watch (dangerous cold and wind chills possible, timing/location still uncertain) from an extreme cold warning (extremely dangerous cold or wind chills expected or occurring, with explicit advice to avoid going outside).
- The Dallas–Fort Worth NWS office guidance is quoted in detail: cover outdoor faucets, leave indoor faucets dripping with cabinets open, and know how to find the home water shut‑off valve ahead of forecast 0–28°F temperatures from Friday to Tuesday.
- The piece reiterates that people can look up their local office’s active watches and warnings by entering their ZIP code on the NWS homepage and should begin preparations (winter survival kits, fuel, driving precautions) when watches are issued.