The National Weather Service is striving to support a “Weather-Ready Nation” by ensuring you are aware of and prepared for the variety of weather and water-based hazards we experience across the country every day. One factor in supporting this awareness and preparedness is to make sure their messaging is as clear and focused as possible.
For decades, the NWS has used the Watch, Warning, and Advisory (WWA) system to alert users of forecasted hazards. In many ways, the WWA system has been highly effective in protecting life and property. With that said, as they have collected feedback during the course of this project, they have learned that some users find the WWA terms confusing. Also, users are sometimes confused about how to interpret and distinguish among the large number of individual WWA “products” (e.g., Wind Advisory, Flood Watch, Winter Storm Warning).
Based on this initial feedback, and with support from social and behavioral scientists, NWS is exploring alternatives for more effectively communicating our hazard messages. The NWS says it is not making any changes to the operational system at this time but that they are carefully considering a number of options, as follows:
- Keep the current WWA system as is;
- Make small to moderate changes; or
- Make a transformational change to the WWA system.
Given that the WWA system has been in place for a very long time, the National Weather Service says it will be important to weigh any and all new ideas carefully, and to consider making initial small improvements while they continue to investigate the possibility of larger change. To support both efforts, the National Weather Service is collecting public comments on these options as they move forward.
Visit their new “Hazard Simplification” webpage at http://www.weather.gov/hazardsimplification/ and let your voice be heard. You can read more information about this project and participate in an online survey.