Keep an Eye On This Critical Warning When the National Weather Service Issues It for Michigan

When skies start to turn dark and storms are immanent, we often turn to the National Weather Service for critical information on a storm's track and severity. All media follow the NWS's guidance on issuance of watches and warnings.

There is a particular class of warning that the National Weather Service uses that should be of critical importance when severe weather approaches and it's one you may not be familiar with.

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The warning is a "PDS" or Particularly Dangerous Situation. The NWS uses the classification in exceeding rare situations.

when long-lived, strong and violent tornadoes are possible. This enhanced wording may also accompany severe thunderstorm watches for intense convective wind storms.

The use of the PDS warning can also be used in flooding situations, high wind conditions and in the winter for extreme wind chill events.

Many in West Michigan will remember the May 2024 tornado that struck Portage in the Kalamazoo area. That particular storm was an example of the National Weather Service issuing a warning with the PDS designation. For those who went through that particular storm, the added level of warning turns out to be highly accurate.

READ MORE: These Are the National Weather Service Offices That Forecast All of Michigan's Weather

When the PDS designation is use for a tornado, it is the next to highest warning level the NWS can issue. The highest warning level is a Tornado Emergency which indicates a confirmed twister heading towards a populated area.

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