One inch of snow in the forecast might not seem like much if you live in cities like Minneapolis, Cleveland or Buffalo. But that one inch of snow could be enough to trigger a winter storm warning in some parts of the country.

While folks in Minnesota might laugh at the idea, in places like Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia, that single inch can bring highways to a halt, close schools and even shut down entire cities. That’s because the National Weather Service (NWS) tailors its winter warnings based on what’s considered “disruptive weather” for each region of the U.S.

Winter storm warnings are not “one-size-fits-all.” The United States spans a huge range of climates. Frigid Arctic air often resides in the northern Plains while warmer winter breezes inhabit the Deep South. Because of

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