The National Weather Service's Los Angeles page recently issued a rare 'Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS)' warning in anticipation of extreme wildfire risk in southern California. The warning, displayed prominently in hot pink letters against a gray background, aims to grab attention and emphasize the urgency of the situation.
PDS warnings were initially introduced to alert the public about tornado outbreaks in the Midwest. Over a decade ago, meteorologists proposed expanding the use of PDS warnings to cover various disasters, including ice storms, floods, hurricanes, and now wildfires. The goal was for the phrase to become synonymous with extreme weather events and emergencies, ultimately helping to save lives.
