9 replies to this topic

[jimjesswill3]

I have a wsw here in E.Stroudsburg
with 6-8 inches of snow!!!
Those with a hsw are forecast to get
5-7 inches of snow!!! Can someone explain???
Posted: 2/25/07 3:52 PM

[LongIslandWthr]

Heavy Snow Warning---
Issued when heavy snowfall is expected and accompanied by moderate or heavy snowfall rates.


Winter Storm Warning----- 
Issued if there is a high probability that severe winter weather will occur, such as heavy snow or sleet, significant accumulations of freezing rain or freezing drizzle, or any combination of these. Issued normally for the first period forecast, i.e. less than or equal to 12 hours in advance of the event. A winter storm warning may be extended into the second period of the forecast if necessary.

[jimjesswill3]

Does that mean I'm not going too see 6-8 inches of snow??
But those with the HSW will

[LongIslandWthr]

You won't have heavy snow fall rates, but you will have snow fall how much I’m not to sure probably 6-8 don't know were your located

[NYBrit]

Maybe the warning just hasn't been issued for you yet.  Or maybe you're not supposed to get as much.  Depends where you are

[jimjesswill3]

Marshall Creek PA A little NW of Shawnee mt

[bm55]

check my reply #11 in the "heavy snow warning issued" topic.

[icehater]

I posted this on Bill's board so here goes again:

This is the first time I've seen upton use a hvy snow warning in ages. They've used WSW for all storms in recent memory.

jimjesswill3 - suupposedly the difference is an issue of wind and/or a sleet or ice mix vs an all snow event. But NWS offices treat that like a 55mph speed limit criteria. Most have put heay snow warnings into moth balls but some NWS offices - like Chicago - never walked away from that warning mode.

[weathergeek87]

Quote

You won't have heavy snow fall rates, but you will have snow fall how much I’m not to sure probably 6-8 don't know were your located

It has more to do with getting a lot of snow within a short time frame I believe........

[icehater]

Quote

Heavy Snow Warning---
Issued when heavy snowfall is expected and accompanied by moderate or heavy snowfall rates.


Winter Storm Warning----- 
Issued if there is a high probability that severe winter weather will occur, such as heavy snow or sleet, significant accumulations of freezing rain or freezing drizzle, or any combination of these. Issued normally for the first period forecast, i.e. less than or equal to 12 hours in advance of the event. A winter storm warning may be extended into the second period of the forecast if necessary.

That's the technical reason. But every storm in the last 10 years in our area used winter storm warning even when it was well known that there'd be no sleet or ice and these included storms where snow fell at 3" an hour rates. Many NWS offices treat both warnings as the same thing.