(WENY) -- With winter weather ramping up around the country it's important to recognize the right messaging when winter storms strike. National Weather Service messages and warnings provide vital information to government officials, local businesses, and most importantly, you. However, since the viewing area is split in half by the Pennsylvania-New York border, sometimes these weather statements can cause confusion.

Across the U.S. there are over 120 National Weather Service offices, each with their own specific guidelines on issuing warnings and advisories. For Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, Tompkins, Tioga New York and Bradford county residents, Binghamton serves as the closest office.

However for Tioga Pennsylvania residents, State College's office serves as the warning site, meaning different requirements for winter warnings. For example if Elmira and Wellsboro are both forecasted to receive 3 inches of show in a 12 hour period, only Tioga County PA would be under a winter weather advisory.

"Bottom line is, whenever these advisories are issued, it's just a heads up that we have winter weather coming our way, and they will provide additional information, and how much snow is going to fall in your community," said WENY Chief Meteorologist Joe Veres.

Thanks to the geographic differences, counties to our south can have lower warning thresholds. The Binghamton office will issue a winter weather advisory when 4 inches of snow or more is forecasted for a given county in 12 hours, and a winter storm warning when 7 inches or more is forecasted. 

The State College office will issue these warnings for 3 and 6 inches of forecasted snow respectively. Ice storm warnings vary greatly, Binghamton issues a warning when a half-inch of freezing rain is forecast, whilst State College issues a warning for just a quarter of an inch.