[EAS] NWS event criteria change?

[Mike McCarthy]

Alex (and Herb),

I first want to extend my appreciation for responding with the detail
contained in both your posts. I can see how the NWS looks at the criterion
employed given risk assessment, impact, severity, timing, as well as
probability of occurrence. I also appreciate your collaboration on this
list.

Never the less, it appears others and I share the same mis-informed, or at
least mis-educated threshold and meaning of what an advisory class product
really states from a NWS perspective. And if that's the case, I can't
imagine the general public's interpretation of and the distinction between
the three products tiers. Particularly with the decades long effort to
educate the meaning of warm weather severe weather watches and warnings
without any advisory product tier. The public at large generally
correlates the same thresholds of increased threat in the winter as they
do in the summer--lacking the short fuse nature of winter weather.

To many, an advisory is just that; an "increased chance a low level impact
or threat will occur" or at a lesser extent than a watch would imply.
Conversely, watches imply a higher degree of probability and/or severity
and/or impact with warnings explicitly stating an event of some
significance is occurring or immediately imminent.

This is a problem.... The survey listed below is but one useful tool....
However, WCM's should look at this carefully and maybe poll their various
EMA partners on their interpretation of the advisory tier products. They
might be surprised at what they learn...

Cheers...

Mike

On Mon, December 12, 2016 3:03 pm, Alexander Tardy - NOAA Federal wrote:
> The "advisory" is typically not (in design) preceded by a "watch". So
> ranking them with a watch is not apples and apples. The advisory is
> usually more imminent and higher confidence (than a watch) due to shorter
> lead time (not as far away in time).
>
> It may be confusing and if so I hope everyone has completed the public
> notification and request for feedback on NWS product simplification.
>
> http://www.weather.gov/hazardsimplification/
>
> Thanks, Alex
>
> Alex Tardy
> Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Manager
> Emergency Preparedness and Partner Collaboration
> Education and Outreach Coordinator
> Media and Public Information Officer
> Cell: 858-442-6016  Office: 858-675-8700
> Skywarn Program Manager
> NOAA/National Weather Service
> 11440 W. Bernardo Court, SanDiego, CA
> weather.gov/sandiego