What's the difference between a lake effect snow advisory and a lake effect snow warning? This is the spot to bone up on your winter terminology and vocabulary. 

Black ice
Thin, new ice that forms on fresh water or dew covered surfaces; it is common on roadways during the fall and early winter and appears "black" because of its transparency.

Blizzard
Includes winter storm conditions of sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more that cause major blowing and drifting of snow, reducing visibility to less than one-quarter mile for 3 or more hours. Extremely cold temperatures often are associated with dangerous blizzard conditions.

Blizzard Warning 
Issued for sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more, and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities at or below ¼ mile; these conditions should persist for at least three hours.

Blowing snow
Wind-driven snow that reduces visibility to six miles or less causing significant drifting. Blowing snow may be snow that is falling and loose snow on the ground picked up by the wind.

 

Cold front
A narrow transition zone separating advancing colder air from retreating warmer air. The air behind a cold front is cooler and typically drier than the air it is replacing.

 

Freezing drizzle                                                                                                           Drizzle that falls in liquid form and then freezes upon impact with the ground or an item with a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less, possibly producing a thin coating of ice. Even in small amounts, freezing drizzle may cause traveling problems.

Freezing fog
A suspension of numerous minute ice crystals in the air, or water droplets at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius, based at the Earth's surface, which reduces horizontal visibility; also called ice fog.

Front
The boundary or transition zone between two different air masses. The basic frontal types are cold fronts, warm fronts and occluded fronts.

Heavy snow warning
Older terminology replaced by winter storm warning for heavy snow. Issued when seven or more inches of snow or sleet is expected in the next 24 hours. A warning is used for winter weather conditions posing a threat to life and property.

High wind warning
Issued when sustained winds from 40 to 73 mph are expected for at least one hour, or any wind gusts are expected to reach 58 miles per hour or more.

High wind watch
Issued when conditions are favorable for the development of high winds over all of or part of the forecast area but the occurrence is still uncertain. The criteria of a high wind watch are listed under the high wind warning and should include the area affected, the reason for the watch and the potential impact of the winds.

Ice fog
A suspension of numerous minute ice crystals in the air, or water droplets at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius, based at the Earth's surface, which reduces horizontal visibility. Usually occurs at -20 degrees Fahrenheit and below.

Ice pellets
Precipitation of transparent or translucent pellets of ice, which are round or irregular, rarely conical, and which have a diameter of 0.2 inches, or less. There are two main types. Hard grains of ice consisting of frozen raindrops and pellets of snow encased in a thin layer of ice.

Ice storm
Liquid rain is falling and freezing on contact with cold objects creating ice build-ups of 1/4th inch or more that can cause severe damage.

Ice storm warning
Older terminology replaced by winter storm warning for severe icing. Issued when 1/2 inch or more of accretion of freezing rain is expected. This may lead to dangerous walking or driving conditions and the pulling down of power lines and trees. A warning is used for winter weather conditions posing a threat to life and property.

Lake Effect Snow Warning
Issued when heavy lake effect snow is imminent or occurring.

Lake Effect Snow Advisory
Issued when the accumulation of lake effect snow will cause significant inconvenience.

 

Snow burst
A Very intense shower of snow, often of short duration, that greatly restricts visibility and produces periods of rapid snow accumulation.

Snow grains
Light snow showers, usually of an intermittent nature and short duration with no measurable accumulation.

Snow pellets
Precipitation of white, opaque grains of ice. The grains are round or sometimes conical. Diameters range from about 0.08 to 0.2 inch.

Snow squalls
Intense, but of limited duration, periods of moderate to heavy snowfall, accompanied by strong, gusty surface winds and possibly lightning.

Wind chill
The additional cooling effect resulting from wind blowing on bare skin. The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined effects of wind and cold. The (equivalent) wind chill temperature is the temperature the body "feels" for a certain combination of wind and air temperature.

Wind Chill Advisory
Issued when wind chill temperatures are expected to be a significant inconvenience to life with prolonged exposure, and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to hazardous exposure.

Wind Chill Warning
Issued when wind chill temperatures are expected to be hazardous to life within several minutes of exposure.

Winter storm
A heavy snow event. A snow accumulation of more than six inches in 12 hours or more than 12 inches in 24 hours.

Winter storm warning
Issued when seven or more inches of snow or sleet is expected in the next 24 hours, or 1/2 inch or more of accretion of freezing rain is expected. A warning is used for winter weather conditions posing a threat to life and property.

Winter Storm Watch                                                                                                             Alerts the public to the possibility of a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, or heavy sleet. Winter Storm Watches are usually issued 12 to 48 hours before the beginning of a Winter Storm.

Winter Storm Outlook                                                                                                             Issued before a Winter Storm Watch. The Outlook is given when forecasters believe winter storm conditions are possible and are usually issued 3 to 5 days in advance of a winter storm.

Winter Weather Advisories
Issued for accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and sleet that will cause significant inconveniences and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to life-threatening situations.

[Information from NOAA and Timeanddate.com]

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