This is Winter Weather Awareness Day in Iowa. Weather Eye meteorologist Paul Trambley says people need to keep an ear to the radio when winter weather is coming and they need to know winter weather terminology. Trambley says when a Winter Storm Watch is issued that you need to prepare immediately for an incoming storm.Trambley says when the force of the storm is moving in, a Winter Storm Warning will be issued up to 48 hours in advance to prepare people for the storm. He provides more detail about what constitutes a winter storm. It means heavy snow of six inches or more within 12 hours or eight inches within 24 hours — or smaller amounts of snow with a lot of blowing snow, low wind chills or freezing rain. Trambley says it’s tough at times to tell whether or not a storm will sock a certain point or not.For more information about Winter Weather Awareness Day, surf the web to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/.
