NWS aims to improve winter messages

DETROIT (AP) - National Weather Service offices for Detroit, Grand Rapids and Gaylord are participating in a multi-state project aimed at improving winter hazard messages.

The weather service's Detroit/Pontiac office said Wednesday that the demonstration project won't change or affect current messages. But a website will allow people to see proposed alternative messages and offer their thoughts about possible new wordings.

The demonstration is expected to run through March 31. It aims to address possible confusion with terms such as "watch," "warning" and "advisory."

The National Weather Service says the project involves more than two dozen offices across the country.