Your feedback is needed on proposed consolidation and reformatting of NWS winter and flood hazard messages

NWS is collecting comments through May 31, 2017, on a proposed operational demonstration to consolidate (i.e., reduce the number of), and reformat winter- and flood-based Watches, Warnings, and Advisories (WWA). This proposed demonstration would commence during the fall of 2017.

The proposed changes are based on feedback from surveys NWS issued in the fall of 2016 and also on the results of social science research. Analyses from these efforts indicate that users are sometimes confused by the large number of hazard messages or "products" NWS currently issues. Feedback has also indicated NWS should apply a consistent product formatting approach to communicate expected hazards and associated impacts.

A listing of the specific proposals, along with examples of the proposed consolidated and reformatted messages, are contained in the Product Description Document (PDD) at the link below:

https://products.weather.gov/PDD/PDDConRef2017.pdf

The surveys are available at the following links and will remain open through May 31, 2017:

Proposed winter product changes: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TPC8WK8

Proposed flood product changes: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TPDCQVJ

Based on feedback received, NWS may implement some or all of the operational demonstration proposals in the fall of 2017 and may also consider the reformatting and consolidation approach for other hazard types in 2018. A Service Change Notice with a minimum 75-day lead time would be issued in advance of any operational changes.

Haz Simp Website: https://www.weather.gov/hazardsimplification/

For more information, please email hazsimp@noaa.gov