Storm summaries provide both a summary of the winter weather which has occurred, and an WPC general forecast of the storm system over the next 1 to 2 days. Storm summaries serve as a central source for winter storm information which would otherwise have to be gleaned from a number of NWS Forecast Office websites.

Storm summaries are issued for significant large-scale winter storms which:

• Affect multiple NWS Forecast Office areas of responsibility
• Are likely to be of media interest
• Impact large population areas, or major transportation systems, or otherwise make a significant impact upon the nation's or a region's commerce
• Are usually snow and/or ice storms, but which may be rainfall events if they are causing widespread flash flooding, mudslides, etc.

If two or more separate storm systems are occurring simultaneously, a storm summary is issued for each individually.