An ice storm warning is a hazardous weather statement issued by the Weather Forecast Offices of the

National Weather Service The National Weather Service (NWS) is an agency of the United States federal government that is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and other weather-related products to organizations and the public for the ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

which indicates that

freezing rain Freezing rain is rain maintained at temperatures below freezing by the ambient air mass that causes freezing on contact with surfaces. Unlike a mixture of rain and snow or ice pellets, freezing rain is made entirely of liquid droplets. The rai ...

produces a significant and possibly damaging accumulation of

ice Ice is water frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius or Depending on the presence of impurities such as particles of soil or bubbles of air, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaq ...

on surfaces. The criteria for this warning vary from state to state, but typically an ice storm warning will be issued any time more than of ice at peak is expected to accumulate in an area, else a freezing rain or drizzle advisory is issued; in some areas, the criterion is instead. Prior to October 2017, a

freezing rain advisory A freezing rain advisory was an advisory issued by the National Weather Service in the United States when freezing rain or freezing drizzle was expected to cause significant inconveniences, but did not meet warning criteria (typically greater than ...

or freezing drizzle advisory was issued when a small amount of icing was possible. In

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...

, a freezing rain warning has the same meaning.

Example of an ice storm warning

632
WWUS44 KLZK 200235
WSWLZK

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
835 PM CST Tue Feb 19 2019

ARZ003-012-013-200600-
/O.UPG.KLZK.WW.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-190220T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KLZK.IS.W.0001.190220T0235Z-190220T0600Z/
Boone-Newton-Searcy-
Including the cities of Harrison, Omaha, Lead Hill, Jasper,
Western Grove, Deer, Marshall, Leslie, and Gilbert
835 PM CST Tue Feb 19 2019

...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...

* WHAT: Significant icing. Storm total ice accumulations of around
  two to three tenths of an inch are expected...mainly on trees
  and power lines.

* WHERE: Boone, Newton and Searcy Counties.

* WHEN: Until midnight CST tonight.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS: The ice will result in tree limbs breaking
  and potential for power outages. There may also be some slick
  spots on bridges and overpasses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

An Ice Storm Warning means significant amounts of ice
accumulation are expected and may result in snapped power lines
and falling tree branches. Be sure to check road conditions
before traveling in these areas. Visit the Arkansas Department of
Transportation's website Idrivearkansas.com for the latest road
and traffic conditions.

&&

$$

References

External links

National Weather Service

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Meteorological Service of Canada
{{SevWea nav Weather warnings and advisories

Example of an ice storm warning

See also

References

External links