OMB Control No. 0648-0342
Expiration Date: 06/30/2025
Paperwork Reduction Act
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0648-0342. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 1-5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the NOAA/NWS Analyze, Forecast, and Support Office: 1325 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: Dr. Danielle Nagele, danielle.nagele@noaa.gov.
Introduction
The National Weather Service (NWS) is considering changes to the text within its Blizzard Warnings and Ice Storm Warnings during certain situations. Additional wording is being proposed within the body of the message (when the need arises) with the intent to clarify which blizzards and ice storms have the potential for a greater than normal impact.
Blizzard Warning Questions
An example of a current Blizzard Warning is provided below:
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions and very heavy lake effect snow will
produce life threatening conditions. Storm total snow
accumulations of 4 to 5 feet across the Buffalo Metro area, and
1 to 3 feet in surrounding areas. Winds gusting as high as 70
mph. Wind chills as cold as 15 to 25 below zero.
* WHERE...Niagara, Orleans, Erie, and Genesee counties.
* WHEN...Until 7 AM EST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Travel will be impossible in the lake effect snow
band. Areas of blowing snow will produce zero visibility. Very
strong winds will cause extensive tree damage and power
outages. The cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero could
cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Strong winds will cause significant blowing and drifting snow,
frequently reducing visibilities to zero. Travel is strongly discouraged.
An example of the proposed Blizzard Warning text is provided below with the additional wording highlighted for reference. This wording would be added in certain situations when impacts are expected to be particularly severe.
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST SUNDAY...
* THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions and very heavy lake effect snow will
produce life threatening conditions. Storm total snow
accumulations of 4 to 5 feet across the Buffalo Metro area, and
1 to 3 feet in surrounding areas. Winds gusting as high as 70
mph. Wind chills as cold as 15 to 25 below zero.
* WHERE...Niagara, Orleans, Erie, and Genesee counties.
* WHEN...Until 7 AM EST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. Travel will be impossible in the lake effect snow band. Areas of blowing snow will produce zero visibility. Very strong winds will cause extensive tree damage and power outages. The cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Strong winds will cause significant blowing and drifting snow,
frequently reducing visibilities to zero. Travel is strongly
discouraged.
Compared to the current Blizzard Warning, the proposed Warning with “Particularly Dangerous Situation” wording provides new or improved information that would enable you to make a more informed decision.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree nor Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not Applicable
Which option would more clearly communicate the Blizzard information?
Option 1: Current Warning text
Option 2: Proposed Warning text
The NWS should move forward with this proposed inclusion of “Particularly Dangerous Situation” wording in the Blizzard Warning.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree nor Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not Applicable
Ice Storm Warning Questions
An example of current Ice Storm Warning text is provided below:
...ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Significant icing expected. Total ice accumulations up
to one half of an inch, with some areas receiving up to three
quarters of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
* WHERE...Barnes, Cass, Ransom, Sargent and Richland Counties.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM CST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the
ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. This will be a locally
damaging icing event.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Highest ice accumulations are expected to
the west of Fargo and Wahpeton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Travel is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep an extra
flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an
emergency. Prepare for possible power outages.
The latest road conditions for North Dakota can be found at
travel.dot.nd.gov and for Minnesota at 511mn.org, or by calling
5 1 1 in either state.
An example of the proposed Ice Storm Warning text is provided below with the additional wording highlighted for reference. This wording would be added in certain situations when impacts are expected to be particularly severe.
...ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST TUESDAY...
* THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
* WHAT...Significant icing expected. Total ice accumulations up
to one half of an inch, with some areas receiving up to three
quarters of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
* WHERE...Barnes, Cass, Ransom, Sargent and Richland Counties.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM CST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ICING CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. This will be a locally damaging icing event.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Highest ice accumulations are expected to
the west of Fargo and Wahpeton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Travel is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep an extra
flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an
emergency. Prepare for possible power outages.
The latest road conditions for North Dakota can be found at
travel.dot.nd.gov and for Minnesota at 511mn.org, or by calling
5 1 1 in either state.
Compared to the current Ice Storm Warning, the proposed Warning with “Particularly Dangerous Situation” wording provides new or improved information that would enable you to make a more informed decision.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree nor Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not Applicable
Which option would more clearly communicate the Ice Storm information?
Option 1: Current Warning text
Option 2: Proposed Warning text
The NWS should move forward with this proposed inclusion of “Particularly Dangerous Situation” wording in the Ice Storm Warning.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree nor Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not Applicable
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| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Adrienne.Thomas |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2024-07-19 |