Starting this winter, there will be no wind chill advisories, watches or warnings. Not because it won’t be cold, but because the language the National Weather Service uses regarding extreme cold events has changed.

Wind Chill Monitoring will become Extreme cold monitoring
Wind Chill Warning will become Extreme cold warning
Wind Chill Advisory will become Cold weather warning

Extreme cold watches and warnings will be issued when the forecast calls for a wind chill of -30°. The Cold Weather Advisory will be issued when wind chill values ​​of -20° are expected.

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The change aims to simplify messaging about cold weather. This helps keep headlines focused on the cold weather, regardless of the wind.

Learn more about the National Weather Service’s Risk Simplification Project here.

Tim Halbach, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Milwaukee, said that over the past 19 years his office has issued 96 wind chill advisories, but only four wind chill warnings. This averages about five cold weather advisories per year, with cold weather warnings being much rarer.

This story was originally published by Kristen Kirchhaine on Scripps News Milwaukee.