When the snow starts flying and your phone buzzes with weather alerts, do you really know what they mean?

Terms like “Winter Storm Watch,” “Wind Chill Warning,” or “Freezing Rain Advisory” aren’t just meteorological jargon — they’re life-saving signals from the National Weather Service designed to keep you safe. Understanding them could mean the difference between staying warm and getting stranded on icy roads.

As we head into another unpredictable winter season, it’s a good time to brush up on the essential winter weather terms and definitions so you can react quickly, plan ahead and stay out of danger.

When winter weather strikes, knowledge equals safety. Confusing a watch for a warning can lead to bad decisions. You don’t want to end up traveling in a blizzard or ignoring dangerous

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