Editing Weather forecasting (section)

==Communicating forecasts to the public==
[[File:Newspaper weather forecast - today and tomorrow.svg|frame|right|An example of a two-day weather forecast in the [[Visual language|visual style]] that an American newspaper might use. Temperatures are given in Fahrenheit.]]
Most end users of forecasts are members of the general public. Thunderstorms can create strong winds and dangerous [[lightning]] strikes that can lead to deaths, power outages,<ref>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/svr/dngr/light.rxml "Lightning"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207041842/http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/svr/dngr/light.rxml |date=February 7, 2007 }}. Retrieved February 16, 2007.</ref> and widespread hail damage. Heavy snow or rain can bring transportation and commerce to a stand-still,<ref>[[Associated Press]] (February 10, 2007). [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17063535 "Upstate N.Y. residents dig out from heavy snow"] . NBC News. Retrieved May 25, 2008.</ref> as well as cause flooding in low-lying areas.<ref>National Flood Insurance Program. [http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flooding_flood_risks/flood_scenarios.jsp "Flood Risk Scenarios: Flash Flood"]. Retrieved 2008-05-25. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313115856/https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flooding_flood_risks/flood_scenarios.jsp|date=March 13, 2014}} <!-- redirects to https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program, maybe there's something useful there, but it's not the same page --></ref> Excessive [[Heat wave|heat]] or [[cold wave]]s can sicken or kill those with inadequate utilities, and droughts can impact water usage and destroy vegetation.

Several countries employ government agencies to provide forecasts and watches/warnings/advisories to the public to protect life and property and maintain commercial interests. Knowledge of what the end user needs from a weather forecast must be taken into account to present the information in a useful and understandable way. Examples include the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]'s [[National Weather Service]] (NWS)<ref>National Weather Service. [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/admin.php About "NOAA's National Weather Service"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214052546/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/admin.php |date=February 14, 2007 }}. Retrieved February 16, 2007.</ref> and [[Environment Canada]]'s [[Meteorological Service of Canada|Meteorological Service]] (MSC).<ref>Environment Canada. [http://weather.gc.ca/canada_e.html "Canadian Weather"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011182910/http://weather.gc.ca/canada_e.html |date=October 11, 2017 }}. Retrieved February 16, 2007.</ref> Traditionally, newspaper, television, and radio have been the primary outlets for presenting weather forecast information to the public. In addition, some cities had [[weather beacon]]s.  Increasingly, the internet is being used due to the vast amount of specific information that can be found.<ref>Canadian Heritage. [http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/ac-ca/progs/ri-bpi/pubs/2005_02/4_e.cfm "Primary Sources of Local Information"]. Retrieved May 26, 2008. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605053120/http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/ac-ca/progs/ri-bpi/pubs/2005_02/4_e.cfm |date=June 5, 2008 }}</ref> In all cases, these outlets update their forecasts on a regular basis.

===Severe weather alerts and advisories===
A major part of modern weather forecasting is the severe weather alerts and advisories that the national weather services issue in the case that severe or hazardous weather is expected. This is done to protect life and property.<ref>[[National Weather Service]]. [http://www.weather.gov/mission.shtml National Weather Service Mission Statement]. Retrieved May 25, 2008. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124214601/http://www.weather.gov/mission.shtml |date=November 24, 2013 }}</ref> Some of the most commonly known of severe weather advisories are the [[Severe thunderstorm warning|severe thunderstorm]] and [[tornado warning]], as well as the [[Severe thunderstorm watch|severe thunderstorm]] and [[tornado watch]]. Other forms of these advisories include winter weather, high wind, [[Flood warning|flood]], [[tropical cyclone]], and fog.<ref>[[Environment Canada]]. [http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/cd/brochures/warning_e.cfm? "Weather watches, warnings and advisories"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060703204148/http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/cd/brochures/warning_e.cfm |date=July 3, 2006 }} Retrieved May 26, 2008.</ref> Severe weather advisories and alerts are broadcast through the media, including radio, using emergency systems as the [[Emergency Alert System]], which break into regular programming.<ref>[[Federal Communications Commission]]. [https://www.fcc.gov/general/emergency-alert-system-eas "Emergency Alert System"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012055644/https://www.fcc.gov/general/emergency-alert-system-eas |date=October 12, 2017 }}. Retrieved May 26, 2008.</ref>

===Low temperature forecast===
The low temperature forecast for the current day is calculated using the lowest temperature found between 7{{nbsp}}pm that evening through 7{{nbsp}}am the following morning.<ref>[[Weather Channel]] – [http://feedback.weather.com/knowledgebase/articles/32098-weather-com-is-the-low-before-or-after-the-high Calculation of Low Temperature Forecast] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906012055/http://feedback.weather.com/knowledgebase/articles/32098-weather-com-is-the-low-before-or-after-the-high |date=September 6, 2015 }}</ref> So, in short, today's forecasted low is most likely tomorrow's low temperature.