diff --git a/csi.proto b/csi.proto
index ac07ad33..f2229b0c 100644
--- a/csi.proto
+++ b/csi.proto
@@ -1305,14 +1305,20 @@ message VolumeHealth {
   enum Condition {
     // Volume health condition is unknown; treat it as healthy.
     UNKNOWN = 0;
-    // Volume is healthy.
+    // Volume is accessible and no problems are detected. 
     HEALTHY = 1;
-    // Volume is temporarily unhealthy, but will likely become healthy.
+    // Volume has degrading performance or is not accessible currently,
+    // but there's no reason to expect data loss. Examples: power
+    // outage, network outage, maintenance.
     TEMPORARY_UNHEALTHY = 2;
-    // Volume will fail soon. Move your data off and replace volume or
-    // you may lose your data.
+    // Volume is accessible currently, but a problem is detected that
+    // could lead to eventual data loss. Examples: recoverable hardware
+    // failure, cooling failure, equipment significantly past end of
+    // life.
     FATAL_IMMINENT = 3;
-    // Volume is unusable. Data loss is likely.
+    // Volume is not accessible currently, and there is reason to
+    // believe the outage may be permanent. Examples: unrecoverable
+    // hardware failure, natural disasters, damage to equipment.
     FATAL = 4;
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/go/csi/csi.pb.go b/lib/go/csi/csi.pb.go
index 2a224d8d..71c05e1a 100644
--- a/lib/go/csi/csi.pb.go
+++ b/lib/go/csi/csi.pb.go
@@ -290,14 +290,20 @@ type VolumeHealth_Condition int32
 const (
 	// Volume health condition is unknown; treat it as healthy.
 	VolumeHealth_UNKNOWN VolumeHealth_Condition = 0
-	// Volume is healthy.
+	// Volume is accessible and no problems are detected.
 	VolumeHealth_HEALTHY VolumeHealth_Condition = 1
-	// Volume is temporarily unhealthy, but will likely become healthy.
+	// Volume has degrading performance or is not accessible currently,
+	// but there's no reason to expect data loss. Examples: power
+	// outage, network outage, maintenance.
 	VolumeHealth_TEMPORARY_UNHEALTHY VolumeHealth_Condition = 2
-	// Volume will fail soon. Move your data off and replace volume or
-	// you may lose your data.
+	// Volume is accessible currently, but a problem is detected that
+	// could lead to eventual data loss. Examples: recoverable hardware
+	// failure, cooling failure, equipment significantly past end of
+	// life.
 	VolumeHealth_FATAL_IMMINENT VolumeHealth_Condition = 3
-	// Volume is unusable. Data loss is likely.
+	// Volume is not accessible currently, and there is reason to
+	// believe the outage may be permanent. Examples: unrecoverable
+	// hardware failure, natural disasters, damage to equipment.
 	VolumeHealth_FATAL VolumeHealth_Condition = 4
 )
 
diff --git a/spec.md b/spec.md
index 74135bb6..0e3adced 100644
--- a/spec.md
+++ b/spec.md
@@ -2311,14 +2311,20 @@ message VolumeHealth {
   enum Condition {
     // Volume health condition is unknown; treat it as healthy.
     UNKNOWN = 0;
-    // Volume is healthy.
+    // Volume is accessible and no problems are detected. 
     HEALTHY = 1;
-    // Volume is temporarily unhealthy, but will likely become healthy.
+    // Volume has degrading performance or is not accessible currently,
+    // but there's no reason to expect data loss. Examples: power
+    // outage, network outage, maintenance.
     TEMPORARY_UNHEALTHY = 2;
-    // Volume will fail soon. Move your data off and replace volume or
-    // you may lose your data.
+    // Volume is accessible currently, but a problem is detected that
+    // could lead to eventual data loss. Examples: recoverable hardware
+    // failure, cooling failure, equipment significantly past end of
+    // life.
     FATAL_IMMINENT = 3;
-    // Volume is unusable. Data loss is likely.
+    // Volume is not accessible currently, and there is reason to
+    // believe the outage may be permanent. Examples: unrecoverable
+    // hardware failure, natural disasters, damage to equipment.
     FATAL = 4;
   }