Testing Public Awareness, Understanding, and Intended Response to Snow Squall Warnings After 5 Years in Use

Snow squall warnings, one of the National Weather Service's newest warning products, help disseminate information about the danger that comes from these short-fused events — low visibility, slick or icy roads, and blowing snow. Since snow squalls pose the greatest threat to those on or about to be on the road, snow squall warnings allow Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to be sent directly to drivers’ phones and other warning mechanisms. But in order for these WEA messages to be effective, drivers must know what a snow squall is and how to respond. The first snow squall warning was issued in February 2018 as part of an operational demonstration in the winter of 2017-18. Snow squall warnings became nationally operational the following year. The winter of 2023-24 will mark the sixth year of national use for the warning. While most snow squall warnings have been issued in the Northeastern region of the United States, the warning has been issued across the country. To begin to assess public knowledge about snow squalls, the Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis has included questions about snow squall warnings on its 2022 and 2023 Winter Weather and Society surveys, a nationally-representative survey fielded annually. These questions were developed in consultation with forecasters at NWS State College. Results from two years of public surveys will be presented to explore public awareness and understanding of and intended response to this new type of warning.