Wildfires Now in the Spotlight for PDS Warnings

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles is alerting people in a unique way. They’ve posted a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” (PDS) warning for the region due to a high risk of wildfires. This warning, in bright pink letters, is meant to grab attention and prepare southern California residents for extreme fire danger starting early on Tuesday. PDS warnings were initially used for tornado outbreaks in the Midwest. But more than ten years ago, a group of meteorologists suggested using them for other extreme weather events too, like ice storms, floods, and hurricanes. They hoped the phrase would become known for signaling dangerous situations and could save lives.

One of the scientists who proposed this change, Jonathan Howell, says it’s worked well. The PDS warning has been used for various emergencies, including wildfires. In November, as Santa Ana winds fueled the Mountain Fire near Los Angeles, forecasters issued a PDS warning, calling the threat “extreme and life-threatening. ” The first use of the term “particularly dangerous situation” was in 1983 during a severe storm in west Texas. Since then, it’s been used many times, especially during tornado outbreaks. For instance, in 2005, the National Weather Service warned of a particularly dangerous situation for a tornado outbreak over Oklahoma and Kansas. Now, as wildfires become a bigger threat, this special warning is getting more attention. It’s a reminder to people that extreme weather can happen anywhere and at any time.

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