As we get deeper into the winter season, winter weather alerts will be a given. Winter weather alerts are either a watch, advisory or warning, and are issued based upon the threat level. Knowing how to interpret those alerts is crucial when it comes to winter safety.

These alerts are all issued by local National Weather Service (NWS) offices and therefore the criteria for each alert will vary depending on the location. For example, the bar for a winter weather advisory in Green Bay, Wisconsin will be much higher than a winter weather advisory issued for Houston.

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Watches: Watches are usually issued at least 24 hours in advance of a possible winter system. While the exact timing and impacts of the system are still uncertain at this point, the watch allows people to prepare for the possibility of threatening conditions. A watch indicates at least a 50% chance of occurrence.

• Winter Storm Watch: This is issued when conditions are favorable for a winter weather event that could be a threat to life or property.
• Blizzard Watch: This is issued when conditions are favorable for a blizzard event. A blizzard is defined as a snow event that causes visibility to remain less than a quarter of a mile and winds are blowing at 35 mph or more for at least three hours.

Advisories: Once the winter system seems more imminent, the NWS will upgrade the alert to either an advisory or warning, depending on the threat level. Both advisories and warnings indicate at least an 80% chance of occurrence. An advisory indicates conditions pose a significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.

• Winter Weather Advisory: A winter weather advisory can be issued for sleet, snow, freezing rain and/or blowing snow.
• Freezing Rain Advisory: A freezing rain advisory is issued when there is a threat for at least some freezing rain or ice accumulation.

Warnings: A warning is issued when conditions are expected to pose a threat to life or property, and that travel will become difficult to impossible.

• Winter Storm Warning: A winter storm warning is issued when snow or sleet is imminent and has the potential to impact travel, life and/or property.
• Ice Storm Warning: An ice storm warning is issued when significant freezing rain or ice accumulation has the potential to bring dangerous conditions to travel, life and/or property.
• Blizzard Warning: A blizzard warning is issued when blizzard conditions are imminent.

There are also advisories, watches and warnings issued for frost, freezes and in instances where extremely cold temperatures are life threatening.

This segment originally appeared in today's edition of the Morning Brief newsletter. Sign up here to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists.

J​ennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.