Special weather statement
A Special Weather Statement is a form of weather advisory. Special Weather Statements are issued by the National Weather Service of the United States and the Meteorological Service of Canada. There are no set criteria for special weather statements in either country.
Definition by region
United States
Local List of [National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices|Weather Forecast Offices] of the National Weather Service may issue a Special Weather Statement to alert of a specified hazard that is approaching or below warning or advisory criteria, that does not have a specific alert product code of their own, to advise of ongoing or imminent hazardous convective weather expected to occur within the geographical area over a one- to two-hour timeframe, major events forecast to occur beyond a six-hour timeframe, or to outline high-impact events supplementary to information contained in other hazardous weather products.Since the NWS discontinued the separate significant weather advisory product in July 2021, Special Weather Statements have been used most commonly to alert of sub-severe thunderstorms, and other convective events of short-term impact to travel and outdoor activities that may not meet warning or advisory criteria. These are also occasionally used to clear counties from severe weather watches. Special Weather Statements may also be issued for possible fire weather conditions. Sometimes, Special Weather Statements may be issued to update on current weather conditions, but such incidences are typically addressed within the Short-Term Forecast product. An Emergency Alert System activation can and may be requested on very rare occasions.