PQR Briefings and Information (2024)

IMPACT LEVELWindSnowIceColdUrban Flooding and Debris FlowsRiver FloodingHeatThunderstormsMarine and Coastal Hazards1
No Impactful Weather.• No threat of wind damage• No snow• No ice• No threat of cold• No threat of urban flooding• No threat of river flooding• Green (0) HeatRisk; Little to no heat risk.

Do NOT use impact/likelihood table. Use NWS HeatRisk

• No threat of thunderstormsMarine:
• Small Craft Advisory2
Potential threat to lives & property if no or incorrect actions are taken. Localized impacts on commerce are possible.• Wind gusts 35-45 mph inland, 40-50 mph for inland coastal communities, 50-60 mph for beaches and headlands• Snow below 1000ft with little to no accumulation on roads

• Sub-advisory level snow at pass level

• Freezing rain that is occurring when road temps are above freezing (e.g. little to no travel impacts)

• Patchy road ice not associated with freezing rain

• Low temperatures near 32F for elevations below 1000ft

• Apparent temperatures 25-32F for elevations below 1000ft

• Hourly rain rates < 0.25"/hr (winter) or < 0.5"/hr (summer), producing minor and isolated urban flooding in low-lying flood prone areas• Isolated minor river flooding• Yellow (1) HeatRisk; Minor heat risk; focus on levels in population centers & valleys

Do NOT use impact/likelihood table. Use NWS HeatRisk

• SPC General Thunder risk (set your thunderstorm risk level to MINOR in your email briefing)Marine:
• High-end Small Craft AdvisoryCoastal Areas:
• Enhanced threat of sneaker waves
• High Surf Advisory3
Potential threat to lives & property if no or incorrect actions are taken. Impacts on commerce are possible.• Wind gusts 45-55 mph inland, 50-60 mph inland coastal communities, 60-70 mph for beaches and headlands• Advisory level snow amounts

• Warning level mountain snow

• Freezing rain occurring when road temps are below freezing and road impacts are expected (advisory level ice amounts)

• Widespread road ice not associated with freezing rain

• Low temperatures 25-30F for elevations below 1000ft

• Apparent temperatures 15-25F for elevations below 1000ft

NOTE: If during growing season (Apr 1-Oct 31), add hard freeze/agricultural impacts to your email briefing details

• 0.25"/hr for 1-2 hours (winter) or 0.5"/hr for 1-2 hours (summer)

• 0.5"/hr for 1 hour (winter) or 1.0"/hr for 1 hour (summer)

• Widespread minor to moderate river flooding• Orange (2) HeatRisk; Moderate heat risk; focus on levels in population centers & valleys

Do NOT use impact/likelihood table. Use NWS HeatRisk

• SPC Marginal risk (set your thunderstorm risk level to MODERATE in your email briefing)Marine:
• Gales and/or Hazardous Seas of 16-19 ft
• Isolated waterspouts (1 or 2 expected)Coastal Areas:
• High Surf Warning
• Coastal Flood Advisory for tidal overflow4
Actions likely needed to save lives and/or property. Significant impacts to commerce possible.• Wind gusts of 55-65 mph inland, 60-70 mph inland coastal communities, 70-80 mph beaches and headlands• 3 to 6" of snow in urban areas below 1000 ft

• Near blizzard conditions, but visibilities are above 1/4 mile so no Blizzard Warning is expected

• Ice storms with widespread ice accumulation around 0.25-0.5"• Low temperatures 15-25F for elevations below 1000ft for two days or more

• Apparent temperatures 5-15F for elevations below 1000ft

• Long duration extreme cold (at least 3 days in a row), but not historic

NOTE: If during growing season (Apr 1-Oct 31), mention hard freeze/agricultural impacts in email briefing

• 0.25"/hr for 3-4 hours (winter) or 1-2 hours (summer)

• 0.5"/hr for 2 hours (winter) or 1.0"/hr for 2 hours (summer)

NOTE: Flash Flood Warnings may be needed as this threshold is met, exceeded

• Widespread moderate and major river flooding• Red (3) HeatRisk; Major heat risk; focus on levels in population centers & valleys

Do NOT use impact/likelihood table. Use NWS HeatRisk

• SPC Slight risk (set your thunderstorm risk level to HIGH in your email briefing)Marine:
• Storm Force winds and/or hazardous seas at or over 20 ft
• Freezing Spray Advisory
• Several waterspouts expected (3 or more)Coastal Areas:
• Coastal Flood Warning5
Actions required to save lives and/or property. Significant and extended impacts to commerce.• Wind gusts over 65 mph inland, over 70 mph inland coastal communities, over 80 mph beaches and headlands

• Extreme fire weather conditions and critically dry fuels warranting a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Watch or Warning

• Blizzard conditions with Blizzard Warning expected

• High-end snowstorms for elevations below 1000ft with hourly snow rates over 1"/hr during morning and/or evening commute and snow totals of 3 feet or more

• Historic mountain snow amounts

• High end ice storms with widespread tree damage/power outages expected due to ice accumulations of 0.5" or higher• Low temperatures below 15F for elevations below 1000ft for 2 days or more

• Apparent temperatures below 5F for elevations below 1000ft

• Historic long duration extreme cold event

NOTE: If during growing season (Apr 1-Oct 31), mention hard freeze/agricultural impacts in email briefing

• 0.5"/hr or more for 3 hours or more (winter)

• 1.0"/hr or 3 hours or more (summer)

• Widespread major or record flooding with impacts to major population areas and dam failure• Magenta (4) HeatRisk; Extreme heat risk; focus on levels in population centers & valleys

Do NOT use impact/likelihood table. Use NWS HeatRisk

• SPC Enhanced, Moderate, or High risk (set your thunderstorm risk level to EXTREME in your email briefing)Marine:
• Hurricane force winds
• Heavy freezing spray riskCoastal Areas:
• Significant coastal flooding >3 ft (high-end Coastal Flood Warning)