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By Kaitlyn Moffett of KBJR6.com - October 16, 2019

Regional meteorologists attended a workshop held by the National Weather Service to learn about upcoming winter weather forecasting.

This year, the NWS will now use a “Snow Squall Warning” in the Midwest, as well as additional warnings, in their forecasts.

The warning has sporadically been used throughout the country before, but it has never been used in the Upper Midwest or Great Lakes region.

The snow squall warning means there will be sudden reductions in visibility due to a sudden burst of moderately heavy and blowing snow, strong gusty winds and slick roadways.

NWS officials say the warning will be in effect for a certain road or highway for up to 30-60 minutes.

In addition, meteorologists learned about the year’s severe weather season, where they found the 2019 season wes less active than 2018:

– 142 Severe Thunderstorm warnings issued, (220 in 2018)
– 10 Tornado warnings issued, (2 in 2018)
– 5 Flash Flood warnings issued, (22 in 2018)
– 29 Special Marine warnings issued, (47 in 2018)

For the Storm Predicition Center, the following were 2019 statistics:

– 21 Marginal Risks
– 8 Slight Risks
– 2 Enhanced Risks
– 1 Moderate Risks
– 0 High Risks