Forecasts are full of shorthand. Here’s a plain-language guide to the terms you’ll see in our daily briefing — so the forecast actually tells you something.
Watches vs. warnings
Watch — conditions are favorable for the event (a storm, a tornado, a flood). Be ready. Warning — it’s happening or about to; act now. A warning always outranks a watch.
Rain & flooding
Rainfall total / QPF — how much rain is expected, usually in inches. Flash flooding — fast flooding from heavy rain in a short time, especially in low spots and underpasses. Soaking rain — steady, widespread rain over hours.
Winter weather
Snow total — expected accumulation, given as a range. Wintry mix — a changing blend of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Wind chill — how cold it feels once wind is factored in.
Severe weather
Elevated / enhanced risk — the Storm Prediction Center’s way of saying how likely and how widespread severe storms may be. Gusts — brief peaks in wind speed, in MPH, which do most wind damage. Cold front — the leading edge of cooler air; often the trigger for a line of storms and a sharp temperature drop.
Still see a term we didn’t cover? Ask us and we’ll add it.