Conversation

Marshall Shepherd
@DrShepherd2013
Moderate is actually an elevated threat for severe weather in the areas below....on these days my consistent unease with the wording choices for these categories resurface...I still think "moderate" is to "meh" sounding for the actual threat level.
Quote Tweet
NWS Storm Prediction Center
@NWSSPC
Dangerous and unprecedented Severe (Moderate Risk 4/5) and Fire Weather conditions are expected today across portions of the CONUS. A fast moving storm system will produce multiple weather hazards through tonight. Stay weather aware and visit spc.noaa.gov for more info
Image
5
Retweets
1
Quote Tweet
27
Likes
Cary B Willis
@CaryB
Replying to
@DrShepherd2013
Agree! Many local mets have decided to emphasize that moderate is a 4 on the 1-5 scale. Everyone understands EF and hurricane scales. “Enhanced” sounds worse but isn’t. “Moderately high” is a better option. Or just “high,” and change what’s now “high” to “extreme.”
1
J. D.
@JamesDowell2
Replying to
@DrShepherd2013
Agreed. For categorical scales meant to inform the public, a layperson should be able to correctly order the categories by their labels. How many people would know 'moderate' is worse than 'enhanced'? Or even that 'slight' is worse than 'marginal'?