Cleveland, OH – Three words appearing in a winter weather warning could signal a storm dangerous enough to threaten lives, shut down highways and leave communities stranded. From northern Ohio to western New York, residents preparing for the 2026-27 winter season may encounter heightened warning language reserved for extraordinary winter emergencies.
According to NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center, the National Weather Service is expanding the use of “Particularly Dangerous Situation,” or PDS, wording in select Blizzard Warnings and Ice Storm Warnings this winter.
The designation is intended for rare, potentially historic storms when forecasters have high confidence that extreme conditions pose an exceptional threat to human life and critical infrastructure…