Abstract
The present study aims to explore current perceptions associated with the diverse user groups which utilize National Weather Service (NWS) Blizzard Warnings. This study is intentionally broad in an attempt to isolate areas in which the communication of NWS Blizzard Warnings can be improved based on findings from this research. The study’s domain is restricted to eastern Nebraska and western Iowa and focuses on eight different sampling groups chosen in an attempt to reflect the diversity that is known to exist within the broader NWS user population. A focus was placed specifically on decision-making groups which rely on NWS Blizzard Warnings to make routine decisions. An emphasis was also placed on procuring a representative sample of the general public within the study’s domain to compare decision-making respondents to members of the general public to interrogate whether differences existed with regard to knowledge of local climatology along with overall understanding of what constitutes a Blizzard Warning. A mixed-mode survey was implemented to gather information from the aforementioned user groups to maximize response rates. Accepted statistical analysis methodologies were employed to measure the central tendency of users’ responses. A knowledge score was also created to measure the understanding of NWS Blizzard Warnings across various user groups. This study suggests that overall understanding of a Blizzard Warning is low across all groups sampled in this study and that a knowledge gap exists between the NWS and its user base with regard to the threats associated with a Blizzard Warning.