Cold Weather Advisory vs Extreme Cold Warning: In Plain Words

The names changed in 2024

The NWS says it is simplifying a suite of cold weather forecast products to improve messaging of winter hazards and provide better decision support, as part of the Hazard Simplification initiative.

The NWS says this effort integrates public and partner engagements and social science research to improve and evolve its alerting system.

On October 1, 2024, the NWS made these changes:

• Wind Chill Watches were renamed to Extreme Cold Watch.
• Wind Chill Warnings were renamed to Extreme Cold Warning.
• Wind Chill Advisory was renamed a Cold Weather Advisory.

The NWS says these changes seek to clarify that cold can be dangerous with or without wind, addressing a common misconception that extreme cold is only tied to colder temperatures when there is wind.

The NWS also says dangerously cold weather can accompany or follow wintry precipitation, and the cold messaging can be overshadowed by the wintry precipitation.

So if an older page, a saved alert, or a search result says “Wind Chill Advisory,” read it as the product now called a Cold Weather Advisory. If it says “Wind Chill Warning,” read it as the product now called an Extreme Cold Warning.

The three cold alerts, as the NWS words them today

The NWS lists these cold-related products on its “Understanding Cold Weather Alerts” page:

• Extreme Cold Warning: Take Action!
• Extreme Cold Watch: Be Prepared.
• Cold Weather Advisory: Be Aware.

Cold Weather Advisory: Be Aware

A Cold Weather Advisory is issued for dangerously cold conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria.

The NWS wording for a Cold Weather Advisory is:

• Be sure you and your loved ones dress appropriately and cover exposed skin when venturing outdoors.

Extreme Cold Watch: Be Prepared

An Extreme Cold Watch is issued when extremely dangerous cold conditions or wind chill values are possible, but the occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain.

The NWS wording for an Extreme Cold Watch is:

• As with a Warning, adjust your plans to avoid being outside during the coldest parts of the day.
• Make sure your car has at least half a tank of gas, and update your winter survival kit.

Extreme Cold Warning: Take Action!

An Extreme Cold Warning is issued when extremely dangerous cold conditions or wind chill values are expected or occurring.

The NWS wording for an Extreme Cold Warning is:

• If you are in an area with an Extreme Cold Warning, avoid going outside.
• If you have to go outside, dress in layers, cover exposed skin, and make sure at least one other person knows your whereabouts.
• Update them when you arrive safely at your destination.

The difference, in one look

• Cold Weather Advisory: dangerously cold conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria.
• Extreme Cold Watch: extremely dangerous cold conditions or wind chill values are possible, but the occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain.
• Extreme Cold Warning: extremely dangerous cold conditions or wind chill values are expected or occurring.

A Watch is headed “Be Prepared” by the NWS, because the event is still possible and still uncertain. An Advisory is headed “Be Aware.” A Warning is headed “Take Action!” — the Warning is the one for extremely dangerous cold that is expected or occurring.

Why the trigger numbers are local

On October 1, 2024, the National Weather Service simplified the cold weather products across the entire country.

One of the main changes was changing the thresholds and criteria used to issue these products.

The thresholds for temperature and wind chills are in tiers. The NWS says these are based on climatology and what temperatures impact the local area.

That is why this page does not print one nationwide temperature or wind chill number for these alerts. Use the alert and the criteria from your own local Forecast Office.