With the winter season upon us, winter weather warnings are bound to arise. The primary goal of a weather event warning is to help keep residents safe during a winter storm. The National Weather Service (NWS) has created a set list of criteria for when they issue a Winter Storm Warning.

Several states are bracing for severe winter weather this weekend as forecasters from the NWS issue warnings for snow and ice.

The National Weather Service tailors its winter warnings based on what’s considered “disruptive weather” for each region of the U.S.

Fully understanding these important terms can mean the difference between inconvenience and disaster during winter.

Winter weather warnings have been issued Monday in parts of Michigan as a frigid air mass ushers cold and snow into the state, the National Weather Service said.

A cold weather advisory in North Texas warns of a wind chill of 10 degrees or lower. The wind chill represents the “feels like” temperature in an area, which is calculated using the air temperature and the wind speed.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Northwest Indiana and the northern suburbs while much of the Chicago area has been downgraded to a Winter Weather Advisory.

Yosemite is under a winter storm warning which was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 11:33 a.m. The warning is valid from Thursday 1 a.m. until Friday Nov. 14, at 4 a.m.

A gale warning alert means there are high sustained winds or frequent gusts over a body of water, so they're reserved for communities near oceans, sounds or lakes.