Beginning on December 8, 2009, the National Weather Service office in Chicago/Romeoville will begin using a new bulletized format for winter weather and non-precipitation watches, warnings, and advisories. The experimental bullet format is similar to the current format for tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings. It is easier for users to read and to quickly gather vital information from during hazardous winter and non-precipitation events. A public information statement from National Weather Service Headquarters can be found here. A product description, including examples and a list of participating NWS offices can be found here.

Here is an example of a winter storm product in the current format and in the bullet format;

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
400 AM CDT FRI JAN 20 2010

.A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS TODAY AND TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE SYSTEM WILL INITIALLY BRING A RAIN SNOW MIX...COLD AIR FLOWING INTO THE SYSTEM WILL CHANGE THE MIX TO ALL SNOW DURING THE EVENING. SNOWFALL OF 6 TO 8 INCHES IS EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND EXTREME NORTHWEST INDIANA.

INZ006-013-014-022-INZ001-201900-
/O.UPG.KLOT.WS.A.0001.100121T0000Z-100121T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KLOT.WS.W.0001.100121T0000Z-100121T1200Z/
LAKE ILLINOIS-DUPAGE-COOK-WILL-LAKE INDIANA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WAUKEGAN...CHICAGO...JOLIET...GARY
400 AM CST FRI JAN 20 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST
SATURDAY.

RAIN WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA...AND MAY INITIALLY BE MIXED WITH SNOW. THE TRANSITION TO SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR THIS EVENING. SNOW MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIME THIS EVENING. TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 6 TO 8 INCHES IS EXPECTED BY SATURDAY MORNING BEFORE SNOW DIMINISHES TO FLURRIES.

WEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT...CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW. TRAVEL WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT OVERNIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING.

PREPAREDNESS/PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP A FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.

&&
$$

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
400 AM CDT FRI JAN 20 2010

.A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS TODAY AND TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE SYSTEM WILL INITIALLY BRING A RAIN SNOW MIX...COLD AIR FLOWING INTO THE SYSTEM WILL CHANGE THE MIX TO ALL SNOW DURING THE EVENING. SNOWFALL OF 6 TO 8 INCHES IS EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND EXTREME NORTHWEST INDIANA.

INZ006-013-014-022-INZ001-201900-
/O.UPG.KLOT.WS.A.0001.100121T0000Z-100121T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KLOT.WS.W.0001.100121T0000Z-100121T1200Z/
LAKE ILLINOIS-DUPAGE-COOK-WILL-LAKE INDIANA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WAUKEGAN...CHICAGO...JOLIET...GARY
400 AM CST FRI JAN 20 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST
SATURDAY.

* RAIN WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND CHANGE TO SNOW BY EVENING...BECOMING HEAVY
* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 8 INCHES
* WEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH LATE TONIGHT WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

PREPAREDNESS/PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP A FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.

&&
$$