Here is a guide to help you better understand a weather forecast. The forecasts issued in the late afternoon and evening have an outlook for the day after tomorrow. A public synopsis is a brief description of the weather systems affecting the area during the forecast period and also includes a summary of the public forecasts for the associated region. The synopsis is primarily intended to give a general description of the weather. Public Warnings are issued to alert the public when hazardous weather conditions are expected to occur in the next 12 to 36 hours, depending on the predictability of the event.
Weather warnings are concise with more detail provided in the public forecast.
The status of all warnings is stated in the associated public forecast. Examples of public warnings include heavy snowfall warnings, heavy rainfall warnings, frost warnings, and freezing rain warnings. See Warning Criteria and Terminology for a list of the warning criteria.