© Crown copyright Met Office Public Education on warning services Sarah Davies UK Met Office Tuesday 27 th November 2012

© Crown copyright Met Office What does the public need to know? Using what we discussed in the last session… Met Office example – the National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) Ideas for educating the public

© Crown copyright Met Office National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) Warnings of weather which will impact on daily life We have worked with partner agencies to develop a risk matrix The alert/warning will provide a combination of The potential impact the weather will have The likelihood of the weather happening NSWWS

© Crown copyright Met Office NSWWS - Impact Matrix HIGH MED LOW X VERY LOW LOWMEDIUMHIGH IMPACT We then plot them on the risk matrix LIKELIHOOD Then assign a colour to the warning which is a combination of potential impact and likelihood

© Crown copyright Met Office NSWWS - Colour Codes NO SEVERE WEATHER EXPECTED Keep up to date with latest forecast BE AWARE Remain alert and keep up to date with latest forecast BE PREPARED Remain vigilant, keep up to date with latest forecast and take precautions where possible TAKE ACTION Remain extra vigilant, keep up to date with latest forecast. Follow orders and any advice given by authorities and be prepared for extraordinary measures

© Crown copyright Met Office Rain Wind Snow Fog Ice Icons indicating the weather element 5-day overview NSWWS - Web Display (UK)

© Crown copyright Met Office NSWWS - Web Display (UK) Chief Forecaster’s Assessment Risk Matrix

© Crown copyright Met Office Impacts Very LowLowMediumHigh Impact and advice associated with SNOW Small amounts of snow lying on roads and pavements so some slippery road surfaces possible. Traffic may move generally slower than normal. Take extra care when walking, cycling or driving in affected areas. More widespread snow lying on roads and pavements but road networks generally open. Care needed with only localised travel disruption. Problems mostly confined to usual prone areas. Take extra care when walking, cycling or driving in affected areas. Journeys through affected areas may take longer than usual. Widespread snow with a number of road closures, others passable only with care. BE PREPARED for some disruption to road, rail and air transport with difficult driving conditions likely and longer journey times. Widespread deep snow with many roads closed or impassable. Roads likely to become impassable with high risk of drivers becoming stranded. Significant disruption to road, rail and air transport. Risk to personal safety. Expect significant disruption to normal day to day life as a result of transport issues, school closures etc. Avoid making unnecessary journeys. Other impacts specific to rain, wind, ice and fog also listed.

© Crown copyright Met Office Public Appreciation 90% of the public think Met Office weather warnings are useful

© Crown copyright Met Office Public products & services Public website Warnings Service Forecasts for media (BBC, ITV, etc) Widgets and gadgets Mountain Area Forecast RSS feeds iPhone App Mobile Weather Library and Archive Twitter and Facebook

© Crown copyright Met Office What other ways can we educate the public? Pamphlets, leaflets and brochures (NSWWS leaflet distributed across Scotland as part of Get Ready for Winter Campaign) Public meetings Open days Shows and exhibitions (eg Outdoor show, Gardeners World exhibition etc) School talks, and school based internet packages (

© Crown copyright Met Office

What other ways can we educate the public? Any other ideas?

© Crown copyright Met Office TV, Friends, Flags,

© Crown copyright Met Office Radio, Newspapers, Twitter.

© Crown copyright Met Office Facebook, Text messaging, Sirens

© Crown copyright Met Office Websites, Signs, Community Wardens, Loud hailer

© Crown copyright Met Office Questions