During Iowa winters meteorologists use terms in their forecast like Winter Storm Watch, Winter Storm Warning, and Blizzard Warning. Are you ever unsure of what distinguishes these weather events?

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf describes a Winter Storm Watch, “A watch usually can come out several days in advance as they’re tracking a storm that’s coming across. It’s usually a little bit easier to track a winter storm than it is a summer storm (because it’s) slower moving, bigger, things like that. So they’ll start out with a Winter Storm Watch, that means that there’s the potential.”

The National Weather Service states a watch is generally issued in the 24-72 hour forecast time frame when the risk of a hazardous winter weather event has increased, its intent to provide enough lead time for those who need to set their plans in motion can do so. A warning means that a storm event is expected to meet or exceed local winter storm warning criteria in the next 12-36 hours.

Kempf makes another point, “Remember, a Blizzard Watch and a Blizzard Warning don’t have anything to do with the amount of snow. You can have a Blizzard Warning with a half an inch of snow. It doesn’t have to be a foot of snow to be a blizzard, that all has to do with the wind and having wind that is consistently above 35-miles-an-hour for a particular period of time.”

When winter weather affects the Raccoon Valley Radio listening area, Kempf advises motorists to stay off the roads if possible. If you have to travel, Kempf recommends giving yourself ample amount of time to get to your destination, and always have a winter emergency kit.