No More Wind Chill Alerts in Minnesota

Hey there, Minnesotans! You might have noticed that it's been a bit warm for this time of year. Don't get used to it, though. Winter is coming, and with it, the usual weather alerts. But this year, something's different. The National Weather Service is shaking things up. You're probably familiar with winter storm watches, warnings, and advisories. Ever seen the storm-vs-taco picture? That's a fun way to remember the difference. An advisory is just a heads-up, while a watch is like a storm's coming, and a warning means it's happening now. Remember the snow squall alert? That's a new one, added a few years back. Snow squalls are intense, with white-out conditions and icy roads in minutes. Not fun! Now, let's talk about wind chill. In the past, we've had wind chill watches, warnings, and advisories. But no more! The National Weather Service is retiring those terms. Starting this winter, you'll see 'extreme cold' instead. Why the change? To make messages simpler and help us make better decisions. So, a wind chill watch is now an extreme cold watch, and so on. It'll take some getting used to, but it's all about staying safe and informed.