Special weather statement
A Special Weather Statement (SAME event code SPS) is a form of weather advisory. Special Weather Statements are issued by the National Weather Service of the United States (NWS) and the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC). There are no set criteria for special weather statements in either country.
Definition by region
United States
Local
Since the NWS discontinued the separate significant weather advisory product in July 2021, Special Weather Statements have been used most commonly to alert of sub-severe thunderstorms (containing sustained winds or gusts of 40–57 mph (64–92 km/h) and/or hail less than one inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, in addition to frequent to continuous lightning and/or funnel clouds not expected to become a tornado threat), and other convective events of short-term impact to travel and outdoor activities (such as snow squalls, bursts of freezing rain, or strong winds or heat bursts produced by decaying thunderstorms) that may not meet warning or advisory criteria.[1] These are also occasionally used to clear counties from severe weather watches.[2] Special Weather Statements may also be issued for possible fire weather conditions (often, at minimum, for an enhanced risk). Sometimes, Special Weather Statements may be issued to update on current weather conditions, but such incidences are typically addressed within the Short-Term Forecast product. An Emergency Alert System (EAS) activation can and may be requested on very rare occasions.
Canada
Special Weather Statements are issued by regional offices of the Meteorological Service of Canada for weather events that are unusual or those that cause general inconvenience or public concern and cannot adequately be described in a weather forecast. These may include widespread events such as
See also
References
- ^ a b "Product Descriptions". National Weather Service Boston, Massachusetts. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ Special Weather Statement