Weather reportage fudging up the fear?-----Roy W. Spencer - A question for fellow meteorologists...

With the current snowstorm, - Roy W. Spencer

I'm seeing something that has bothered me in recent years... 

• "heavy snow" is supposed to only be reported when the visibility is reduced to 1/4 mile, and 
• moderate snow has a threshold of 1/2 mile. 

But I am increasingly seeing these being reported with visibilities of 1 mile or more. 

What's going on?? 

I asked Grok, which says the FMH1 Handbook has not changed its definitions.

William T. Reid

If these observations are made by a certified airport observer, then they are errors. Hopefully you aren't seeing one-mile plus visibilities and heavy snow when ASOS is in AUTO mode.

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Roy W. Spencer

William T. Reid I thought virtually all reports are now automated ASOS or AWOS?