Freeze warning
{{short description|Warning issued by the U.S. National Weather Service for the occurrence of sub-freezing temperatures}}
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A freeze warning issued in America is a warning issued by the National Weather Service when the temperature is going to be projected as below {{Convert|32|F|C|abbr=}} for a long period of time.{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Understanding Cold Weather Alerts |url=https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-ww |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}} This is used if the temperature is low enough to cause the most impact at that time of year.{{Cite web |last=Stutzke |first=Andrew |date=November 2, 2023 |title=Freeze warning: What does it mean? |url=https://www.wqad.com/article/weather/ask-andrew/what-freeze-warnings-mean/526-86fdb94b-41be-4b44-b557-67f5cafdbf96 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=WQAD8 ABC}}
File:Frozen fodder crop - geograph.org.uk - 7386838.jpg
The warning is used in the fall to mark the end of the growing season with the first episode of a widespread freeze.{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Watch/Warning/Advisory Definitions |url=https://www.weather.gov/lwx/warningsdefined |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}} This is due to the temperature threshold that kills certain types of commercial crops and residential plants.{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Understanding Cold Weather Alerts |url=https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-ww |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}} However, if the temperature drops below {{Convert|28|F|C|abbr=|sp=us}} for a length of time it can kill most types of commercial crops and residential plants{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Understanding Cold Weather Alerts |url=https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-ww |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}.The end of growing season occurs in mid to late October west of the Blue Ridge mountains and early November east of the mountains, but if the climate is warm the growing season may extend longer.{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Watch/Warning/Advisory Definitions |url=https://www.weather.gov/lwx/warningsdefined |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}} Historically, these dates started earlier in September.{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Earliest/Mean/Latest First Fall Freeze Climatology |url=https://www.weather.gov/dlh/FrostFreezeClimatology |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}
At the end of spring, another freeze warning is issued at the start of growing season if it is predicted to cause damage to new plants and crops.{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Watch/Warning/Advisory Definitions |url=https://www.weather.gov/lwx/warningsdefined |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}
The Benefit of Freeze Warnings
Having a freeze warning is not just used to protect plants from freezing. Many people stand to benefit by abiding and following the precautions placed in a freeze warning. Homeowners, renters, or people who work with water outside stand to benefit from paying attention to freeze warnings because pipes, garden houses, and other equipment that uses water can be damaged in temperatures below freezing. The water freezes and then expands, causing damage to your equipment. One way to tend to this is by storing the equipment in a dry place during the winter season or using insulated pipes and winterizing covers.
A study shows that those who use predictive intervals, or warnings, took more precautionary action than those using deterministic forecasts.{{Cite journal |last=Joslyn |first=Susan |last2=Nemec |first2=Lou |last3=Savelli |first3=Sonia |date=2013 |title=The Benefits and Challenges of Predictive Interval Forecasts and Verification Graphics for End Users |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24907512 |journal=Weather, Climate, and Society |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=133–147 |doi=10.2307/24907512 |issn=1948-8327}} Some believe that weather warnings are pointless due to the capacity for the warning to be wrong, making them skeptical to using them. However, both groups, those using predictive intervals and deterministic forecasts, were able to understand the predictive interval verification graphics and use them to correctly identify the best performing forecast periods and achieving better results.{{Cite journal |last=Joslyn |first=Susan |last2=Nemec |first2=Lou |last3=Savelli |first3=Sonia |date=2013 |title=The Benefits and Challenges of Predictive Interval Forecasts and Verification Graphics for End Users |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24907512 |journal=Weather, Climate, and Society |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=133–147 |doi=10.2307/24907512 |issn=1948-8327}} By utilizing verification graphics, the National Weather Service is able to increase trust of the public.{{Cite journal |last=Joslyn |first=Susan |last2=Nemec |first2=Lou |last3=Savelli |first3=Sonia |date=2013 |title=The Benefits and Challenges of Predictive Interval Forecasts and Verification Graphics for End Users |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24907512 |journal=Weather, Climate, and Society |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=133–147 |doi=10.2307/24907512 |issn=1948-8327}}
Example
110
WWUS74 KMOB 081005
NPWMOB
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mobile AL
405 AM CST Thu Mar 8 2018
...FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE
AREA LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...
.Temperatures are expected to drop to near or just below freezing
across portions of interior southeast Mississippi and interior
southwest Alabama late tonight into early Friday morning. Areas of
frost will also be possible across the area during the same time
period.
ALZ051>058-MSZ067-081900-
/O.UPG.KMOB.FZ.A.0001.180309T0600Z-180309T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KMOB.FZ.W.0001.180309T0600Z-180309T1400Z/
Choctaw-Washington-Clarke-Wilcox-Monroe-Conecuh-Butler-Crenshaw-
Wayne-
Including the cities of Butler, Lisman, Silas, Chatom, Millry,
Grove Hill, Jackson, Thomasville, Camden, Pine Hill, Homewood,
Monroeville, Evergreen, Greenville, Brantley, Luverne,
and Waynesboro
405 AM CST Thu Mar 8 2018
...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM CST
FRIDAY...
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a Freeze
Warning, which is in effect from midnight tonight to 8 AM CST
Friday. The Freeze Watch is no longer in effect.
* TEMPERATURE...A range of 30 to 32 degrees is expected.
* IMPACTS...Temperatures at or below freezing, along with areas
of frost, could kill sensitive plants and vegetation.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Freeze Warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or
highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and other
sensitive vegetation.
&&
$$
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ National Weather Service]
- [http://www.fema.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency]
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