NAVIGATING THE SCWXA WEBSITE.If you are new to the SCWXA, the staff welcomes you. Here you can read exactly how to navigate this weather service. If you are stuck, contact the SCWXA by clicking the live help button on the top if it reads, "Online", or simply sending the SCWXA a contact form submission report.
Regional Forecast Meteorologist Discussion: Usually a general overview of the coming Southern California Weather Pattern, outlining key areas in a forecast, talking about the watches already out, any planned watches, and possibly even long range forecasts.Chat: The SCWXA has chat sessions announced on the site before-hand. These are during stronger weather events only.
Weather Watches: The SCWXA weather watches are not NWS issued watches. We do not automate our watches like other weather services to bring NWS watches. SCWXA watches are designed for Southern California only, not the United States as a whole.
Types of watches:
STORMS:
Pacific Depression Advisory (PDA) - This is a category one storm system, always during the September to Spring season. The depression is the weakest of the storm types to hit Southern California. It can provide light showers.
Pacific Storm Advisory (PSA) - This is a category two or three system. It can have moderate rain/snow, a chance of thunderstorms, and moderate winds, depending where you are.
Pacific Storm Warning (PSW) - This is the largest storm system the SCWXA forecasts. The Category four and five have heavy rain or snow, thunderstorms in cold cores with waterspouts or small tornadoes, and strong winds in areas, and of course depending where you are.
STATEMENTS:
Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO) - A Hazardous Weather Outlook is issued when an outlook for possible pattern changes and will or will not come to be. It is a general outlook to let the public know something is on the "horizon".
Special Weather Statement (SWS) - A Special Weather Statement; or in some cases Storm Statement, may be issued when a pending event is coming. If an event is coming up weatherwise for a larger region, this will be issued.
The statement may continue details on the coming event. Each storm statement comes with preliminary, and final forecasts. Final forecasts are the ones that count as final from us.
Short Term Forecast (STF) - A Short Term Forecast is a brief short term weather discussion.
Fog Advisory (FAV) - A Fog Advisory is issued when visibilities are expected to be low, on the order of 1/4 of a mile or less. Driving conditions will be hazardous in the advisory areas. All drivers and pilots use extra caution and remember the conditions can change rapidly.
FIRE:
Fire Weather Watch (FWW) - When relative humidities are expected to be in the single digits, high temperatures, and weak-moderate wind gusts or a lower risk fire hazard.
Fire Weather Warning (FWWG) - A Fire Weather Warning is issued when relative humidity combines with high temperatures and some gusty wind conditions expected.
WIND:
Wind Watch (WW) - A wind watch is issued by us when stronger winds, in excess of 30 mph are possible. This watch usually marks spots that may be affected by the wind advisory, often issued 36 to 72 hours from an expected event. It means the SCWXA is pending an upgrade to a wind advisory product.
Wind Advisory (WA) - A wind advisory is issued by us when wind gusts from 30 to 54 mph can be expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult and some blowing dust where rain has not fallen is possible.
High Wind Watch (HWW) - A High Wind Watch is issued by SCWXA when wind gusts 50mph or higher are possible, but not final. This is issued to let you know high winds will be in the area. It may be issued 0-72 hours before the winds hit. A high wind watch means that we are figuring out if these winds will be likely, and the chance is there for an upgrade to High Wind Warning.
High Wind Warning (HWWG) - A High Wind Warning is issued by SCWXA 0-24 hours before conditions are favorable for 50 mph or higher wind gusts.
Hurricane Wind Speed Warning (HWSW) - A Hurricane Wind Speed Warning is issued 0-24 hours before an event, usually replacing a high wind watch. This warning is when wind gusts are targeted at 74 mph or higher for a longer period of time. These are damaging winds, and the potential for widespread damage across the area is possible with this warning issued.
SANTA ANA WINDS: The SCWXA is the only one that designed and issues these types of watches.
Santa Ana Wind Watch (SAWW) - A Santa Ana Wind Watch is issued by us when Santa Ana Winds are expected to enter the region. Issued before the advisory or warnings to warn. Fire watches may be pending in this watch but not a certain.
Santa Ana Wind Advisory (SAWA) - A Santa Ana Wind Advisory is issued when offshore wind gusts are expected to be dry, and gusting between 30 to 54 mph, or the majority of the region will see such. There can be cases when an advisory goes up and stronger wind gusts near the pass and canyon regions is always likely.
Santa Ana Wind Warning (SAWWG) - A Santa Ana Wind Warning is issued by us when Santa Ana Winds are expected to enter the region with a fire hazard as well. A Santa Ana Wind Warning are winds of 30+ mph in a Santa Ana Wind Pattern.
WINTER STORMS:
Winter Weather Advisory (WWA) - Mix of freezing rain/snow/sleet will be possible in the area or light accumulation of either.
Snow Advisory (SA) - A Snow Advisory is issued when falling snow will be possible.
Blowing Snow Advisory (BSA) - A Blowing Snow Advisory is issued when strong winds, and falling snow will be possible. This can reduce visibility to near or at zero and making driving difficult to even impossible.
Winter Storm Watch (WSW) - A Winter Storm Watch is issued when significant winter like conditions are expected. Whether it be significant snow, or high winds + significant snow. This also will be issued if a blizzard type watch/warning is being reviewed to issue 24 hours before the event. It will say this in the wording of the watch. This type of watch is dangerous. You must not travel if you do not need to. If you feel the need to travel, bring extra food, water, and a flashlight in the affected areas.
Winter Storm Warning (WSWG) - A Winter Storm Warning is issued when significant winter like conditions are expected. Whether it be significant snow, or high winds + significant snow. This type of watch is dangerous. You must not travel if you do not need to. If you feel the need to travel, bring extra food, water, and a flashlight in the affected areas.
Blizzard Warning (BW) - A Blizzard Warning means that conditions will be likely for strong winds, and pounding snow that will make white out conditions. Winds like this could be over 50 mph.
Avalanche Watch (AW) - An Avalanche Watch is issued when conditions favor avalanche danger...Stay off the no zones in the backcountry or face certain danger.
HEAT:
Heat Advisory (HA) - A Heat Advisory is issued when temperatures are in the 90's during the cold season, and 95 during the hot season. Temperatures like this can be hard on the sensitive and never leave living things in cars with the windows up when it is this hot out. Drink plenty of water and eat saltine crackers if outside to replenish the body.
High Heat Warning (HHW) - A High Heat Warning is for 100-105+ degrees in May, and 110+ degrees during the Summer for desert locations, and 105+ for valley locations. Temperatures like this can be hard on the sensitive and never leave living things in cars with the windows up when it is this hot out. Drink plenty of water and eat saltine crackers if outside to replenish the body. These are dangerous temperatures. If living in the desert we know you are use to this but people travelling through there might not be and this is for them.
COLD:
Frost Advisory (FA) - A Frost Advisory is issued When dynamics produce frost in the area. Isolated frost is not the issue on hand.
Freeze Warning (FRW) - A freeze warning is when temperatures are expected or already are at freezing and should stay for several hours. additional wording of the event such as ice will be mentioned in this.
Hard Freeze Warning (HFRW) - A Hard Freeze Warning is when temperatures are expected to be 25 degrees or lower at anytime. Temperatures like this can extremely harmful to all life or property. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them, and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing. These conditions will also kill crops and other sensitive vegetation...
Wind Chill Warning (WCW) - A wind chill warning is when dangerous, freezing, or sub-freezing wind chills are expected in the area. This means winds combined with extreme cold to make it feel even colder, possibly leading to hypothermia.
FLOOD:
Flood Watch (FW) - A Flood Watch is issued when dynamics are pending, but not final for at least one inch of rain or more. If more is expected, it will say so on the product's forecast wording. This is usually issued just before an official flood warning product, which means the situation is more likely to happen.
Flood Warning (FWG) - A Flood Warning is issued when dynamics are favorable for at least one inch of rain or more. If more is expected, it will say so on the product's forecast wording.
Flood Advisory (FAD) - A Flood Advisory is issued for areas that are expected to be less than an inch of rain, but still may cause problems in terms of small debris flows, and hazardous driving conditions.
MARINE:
Marine Weather Statement (MWS) - A Marine Weather Statement is issued when wind gusts of 30+ mph or more will be possible out on sea. It can also be issued if waterspouts are possible and will mention so in the wording.
Marine Weather Warning (MWW) - When a significant marine event is expected with gale force or higher wind gusts, high waves, severe thunderstorms, or dangerous waterspouts. This product is dangerous to small crafts and of course, people.
High Surf Watch (HSW) - A High Surf Watch is issued when waves or swell more than 8 feet high is expected. This can make activities on the coast and ocean tough and you should take caution when doing so.
CONVECTIVE:
Thunderstorm Statement (TSS) - A Thunderstorm Statement means that dynamics are being looked into for a possible convective watch such as the thunderstorm watch, which means thunderstorms will be possible in the region during the statement period.
Thunderstorm Watch (TSW) A Thunderstorm Watch is when thunderstorms are happening, or dynamics are going to be in the area to produce a thunderstorm chance.
Severe Weather Statement (SWST) - A Severe Weather Statement means that reviews are being made for a decision to issue a convective watch and is not an official SCWXA tornado or severe thunderstorm watch saying it will happen. A convective watch is a lightning, severe thunderstorm, or even a tornado watch. The wording will describe the type of watch.
Severe Thunderstorm Advisory (STA) - A Severe Thunderstorm Advisory is issued when isolated severe weather events are expected, or very isolated tornadoes are possible.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch (STW) - A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is a watch box that is issued when lightning + severe winds will be possible in the area. Damaging wind potential is possible within and around the watch box and thunderstorms are expected to be organized. Tornadoes are possible with any severe thunderstorm.
Tornado Advisory (TA) - A Tornado Advisory is issued under areas that have weaker, but possible tornado dynamics or a smaller coverage area. This advisory is slightly less powerful than a Tornado Watch from us. A tornado may or may not form, however the dynamics are possible for isolated events. Tornadoes in Southern California are mostly weak. We do get some stronger ones, but have not had the F5 type you all hear about in the midwest. A tornado advisory is nothing like that and just means the chances of tornadoes are possible with the development of any thunderstorms that hit.
Tornado Watch (TW) - A Tornado Watch is issued when favorable dynamics are around to produce two or more tornadoes in the area. It can also be issued if dynamics favor a large area of tornado chances. Tornadoes in Southern California are mostly weak. We do get some stronger ones, but have not had the F5 type you all hear about in the midwest. A tornado watch is nothing like that and just means the chances of tornadoes are possible with the development of any thunderstorms that hit.
WARNINGS:
The SCWXA outline has severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. They can be found by clicking here.
