The Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area as well as the rest of the state is already getting a taste of winter with snow received Monday and more predicted later this week. Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management encourages residents to be prepared by brushing up on some winter weather vocabulary.

The National Weather Service uses several terms to inform the public on different winter conditions. These include a winter weather advisory, in which accumulations of snow, freezing rain, and/or sleet may cause significant inconveniences and could lead to life threatening situations. Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf describes how winter storm watches and warnings differ from other storms, “One of the differences between our normal storm watches and warnings and the winter watches and warnings is they usually come out quite a bit farther ahead of time. A lot of times you’ll get your watches and warnings sometimes even 48 hours ahead of time, because the systems are much slower moving they’re easier to track and stuff like that.”

Other weather advisories to look out for deal with dangerous wind chills, freezing rain and ice storms. Kempf urges motorists to always check the forecast before traveling in the winter, and to remember to adapt your driving to the conditions of the road.