We are all about to have to come to terms with something, and that “something” is winter! And the best way to get through a northern Maine winter is to understand the terms you hear in the various warnings and advisories which are issued. That will be the main thrust of this column, and it is one you may wish to clip and put on the fridge, so that when you hear something this winter, you will know what it means.
First, though, while we all know what rain and snow look like, sleet and freezing rain are two types of precipitation that tend to confuse folks when they hear that one or both are on the way. So let’s clear up the confusion! Sleet is small, BB-sized pellets of ice, while Freezing Rain looks just like regular rain when you look out of your window, but it then strikes the ground and freezes on contact.
Next, let’s cover the order in which the NWS issues products, alerting you that wintry weather is a possibility.
The first notification they issue is called a Hazardous Weather Outlook. This is intended to serve as a heads-up that weather which would make travel tricky, may be on the way, and that you should continue to monitor forecasts.
The second notification they issue is a Winter Storm Watch. This means that the wintry weather with significant travels impacts has become more likely but is not yet certain.
The third notification they issue is a Winter Storm Warning. This means that a winter storm is going to occur and that travel will be impacted. Winter Storm Warnings are of course updated during the event.
There are a few more definitions which are important to know. A BLIZZARD WARNING means that falling and/or blowing snow will limit visibility to 1/4 mile or less for a period of at least three hours and that sustained winds will be at least 35 mph during that entire time.
Many, many people think “Blizzard” means lots of snow and while sometimes that is true, sometimes it is not! When you hear “Blizzard,” train yourself to think “white-outs,” because one of the most potentially deadly things we face here in The County is white-outs. I always like to compare driving in a white-out to driving with a blindfold on! It is that dangerous!
Now, any type of winter precipitation *ADVISORY* should be thought of as the “little brother or sister” of a Winter Storm Warning, which is to say, you will need to slow down for conditions. However it will not be a situation where you wish you had not started out in the first place, as is often the case for those who venture out when a Winter Storm Warning is in place.
However, there is one advisory exception which, in my view, must be taken as seriously as a Winter Storm Warning, and that would be a FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY. Again, Freezing Rain is rain which freezes on contact with surfaces, including roads. It only takes a paper-thin layer of ice to make you lose complete control of your vehicle in the blink of an eye, as happened to a number of County folks a couple of Saturday evenings ago.
If a heavy accretion of ice is expected, the National Weather Service will issue an ICE STORM WARNING. If you ever are in an area for which an ice storm warning is issued, widespread tree and powerline damage should be expected, and sufficient supplies should be laid in ahead of time.
Ted Shapiro holds the Broadcast Seal of Approval from both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. An Alexandria, Va. native, he has been chief meteorologist at WAGM-TV since 2006. Email him at tshapiro@wagmtv.com.
