Filters alerts by the likelihood of the event to cause high levels of property damage or to be difficult to mitigate. The available options include Minor, Moderate, Severe, and Extreme. For all forecast alert types, the definition of these severity levels follows the Common Alerting Protocol standard, as follows:
Minor: Minimal threat to life or property
Moderate: Possible threat to life or property
Severe: Significant threat to life or property
Extreme: Extraordinary threat to life or property
Severity
Filters alerts by the likelihood of the event to cause high levels of property damage or to be difficult to mitigate. The available options include Minor, Moderate, Severe, and Extreme. For all forecast alert types, the definition of these severity levels follows the Common Alerting Protocol standard, as follows: Minor: Minimal threat to life or property Moderate: Possible threat to life or property Severe: Significant threat to life or property Extreme: Extraordinary threat to life or propertyA watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so. (NOAA)
NOAA Watch
Highlights special weather conditions that are less serious than a warning. They are for events that may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property. (NOAA)
NOAA Advisory
A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property. (NOAA)
NOAA Warning
A narrative statement issued by a National Weather Service Forecast Office that can be used for:
1) A current or expected non-hazardous event of general interest to the public that can usually be covered with a single message (e.g., unusual atmospheric phenomena such as sun dogs, halos, rainbows, aurora borealis, lenticular clouds, and stories about a long-term dry/cold/wet/warm spell).
2) Public educational information and activities, such as storm safety rules, awareness activities, storm drills, et.
3) Information regarding service changes, service limitations, interruptions due to reduced or lost power or equipment outages, or special information clarifying interpretation of NWS data. For example, this product may be used to inform users of radar equipment outages or special information clarifying interpretation of radar data originating from an unusual source which may be mistaken for precipitation (such as chaff drops, smoke plumes, etc., that produces echoes on the radar display.
Public Information Statement
An emergency message that defines a local or state 911 telephone network outage by geographic area or telephone exchange. Authorized officials may provide alternative phone numbers in which to reach 911 or dispatch personnel. (NOAA)
911 Telephone Outage Emergency
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines a false alarm as an event that was predicted to occur but did not. NOAA uses a two-by-two contingency table to track false alarms, which considers whether a severe weather warning was issued and if a severe weather event was observed. The table's results include hits, false alarms, missed events, and all clear. (NOAA)
Accidental False Alarm
A non-emergency message that provides updated information about an event in progress, an event that has expired or concluded early, pre-event preparation or mitigation activities, post-event recovery operations, or other administrative matters pertaining to the Emergency Alert System. (NOAA)
Administration Message
Used to relay non-routine air quality alert messages issued by state and local agencies. It is only meant to convey the official information from the state and local air quality agencies.
Criteria: Air quality conditions reach or are expected to reach "unhealthy" or worse (AQI 151 to 200 or above) (NWS)
The EPA developed the Air Quality Index (AQI) which reports levels of ozone, particle pollution, and other common air pollutants on the same scale. An AQI reading of 101 corresponds to a level that is above the national air quality standard - the higher the AQI rating, the greater the health impact. (NOAA)
Air Quality Alert
This National Weather Service product is issued when major buildups of air pollution, smoke, dust, or industrial gasses are expected near the ground for a period of time. This usually results from a stagnant high pressure system with weak winds being unable to bring in fresh air. (NOAA)
Air Stagnation Advisory
An advisory issued for conditions associated with airborne ash plume resulting in ongoing deposition at the surface. Ashfall may originate directly from a volcanic eruption, or indirectly by wind suspending the ash. (NOAA)
Ashfall Advisory
An ashfall warning is issued when an airborne ash plume resulting in ongoing deposition at the surface is occurring or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.
Ashfall Warning
An avalanche warning is issued when dangerous avalanche conditions are present. (NOAA)
Avalanche Warning
An avalanche watch is issued when the risk of an avalanche occurring has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. (NOAA)
Avalanche Watch/Advisory
Issued for winter storms with sustained or frequent winds of 35 mph or higher with considerable falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibility to 1/4 of a mile or less. These conditions are expected to prevail for a minimum of 3 hours. (NOAA)
Blizzard Warning
A blizzard watch is issued when the risk of a blizzard occurring has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain.
Blizzard Watch
Long duration event of widespread or localized blowing dust reducing visibilities to one mile or less, but greater than 1/4 mile. (NOAA)
Blowing Dust Advisory
A long duration event of widespread or localized blowing dust reducing visibilities to 1/4 mile or less. (NWS)
Blowing Dust Warning
Minor flooding is possible (i.e., over and above normal high tide levels. Coastal/Lakeshore Flood Advisories are issued using the Coastal/Lakeshore Hazard Message (CFW) product. (NOAA)
Coastal Flood Advisory
Flooding with significant impacts is possible. Coastal/Lakeshore Flood Watches are issued using the Coastal/Lakeshore Hazard Message (CFW) product. (NOAA)
Coastal Flood Watch
A large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. (NOAA)
Cyclone
Issued when fog reduces visibility to 1/8 mile or less over a widespread area. For marine products: An advisory for widespread or localized fog reducing visibilities to regionally or locally defined limitations not to exceed 1 nautical mile. (NOAA)
Dense Fog Advisory
An advisory for widespread or localized smoke reducing visibilities to regionally or locally defined limitations not to exceed 1 nautical mile. (NOAA)
Dense Smoke Advisory
A severe weather condition characterized by strong winds and dust-filled air over an extensive area. (NOAA)
Dust Storm
A blowing dust advisory is issued when blowing dust reduces visibilities to between a quarter of a mile and a mile. (NOAA)
Blowing Dust Advisory
A long duration event of widespread or localized blowing dust reducing visibilities to 1/4 mile or less. (NOAA)
Blowing Dust Warning
Issued within 12 hours of the onset of the following criteria: heat index of at least 105°F for more than 3 hours per day for 2 consecutive days, or heat index more than 115°F for any period of time. (NOAA)
Excessive Heat Warning
An extreme watch is issued when the risk of extreme cold occurring has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain.
Extreme Cold Watch
Issued by the National Weather Service when heat indices in excess of 105ºF (41ºC) during the day combined with nighttime low temperatures of 80ºF (27ºC) or higher are forecast to occur for two consecutive days. (NOAA)
Excessive Heat Watch
Extreme Fire Danger
Extreme (Red)—Fires will start and spread rapidly. Every fire start has the potential to become large. Expect extreme, erratic fire behavior. NO OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN AREAS WITH EXTREME FIRE DANGER. (NOAA)
Extreme Wind Warning (EWW) inform the public of the need to take immediate shelter in an interior portion of a well-built structure due to the onset of extreme tropical cyclone winds. An EWW for extreme tropical cyclone winds should be issued when both of the following criteria are met: a. Tropical cyclone is a category 3 or greater on the Saffir Simpson hurricane scale as designated by NHC, CPHC or JTWC. b. Sustained tropical cyclone surface winds of 100 knots (115 mph) or greater are occurring or are expected to occur in a WFO’s county warning area within one hour. (NOAA)
Extreme Wind Warning
An Emergency Declaration can be declared for any occasion or instance when the President determines federal assistance is needed. Emergency Declarations supplement State and local efforts in providing emergency services, such as the protection of lives, property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States. The total amount of assistance provided for a single emergency may not exceed $5 million. If this amount is exceeded, the President shall report to Congress. (Fema.gov)
FEMA Emergency Declaration
The Fire Management Assistance declaration process is initiated when a state submits a request for assistance to the FEMA Regional Director at the time a "threat of major disaster" exists. The entire process is accomplished on an expedited basis and a FEMA decision is rendered in a matter of hours. (FEMA.gov)
FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration
Major Declaration: The President can declare a Major Disaster Declaration for any natural event, including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought, or, regardless of cause, fire, flood, or explosion, that the President believes has caused damage of such severity that it is beyond the combined capabilities of state and local governments to respond. A major disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work. (Fema.gov)
FEMA Major Disaster Declaration
A Fire Weather Watch or Red Flag Warning is issued when the combination of dry fuels and weather conditions support extreme fire danger. These products are written for land and fire managers to highlight the increased fire danger. Each NWS office creates local criteria for fire weather watches and red flag warnings.
A Fire Weather Watch is issued up to 72 hours before the above conditions are expected to occur.
A Red Flag Warning is issued when the conditions above are expected to occur or are occurring within the next 24 hours.
Fire Weather Watch
A rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within six hours of the causative event (e.g., intense rainfall, dam failure, ice jam). However, the actual time threshold may vary in different parts of the country. Ongoing flooding can intensify to flash flooding in cases where intense rainfall results in a rapid surge of rising flood waters. (NOAA)
Flash Flood
A statement by the NWS which provides follow-up information on flash flood watches and warnings. (NOAA)
Flash Flood Statement
Issued to inform the public, emergency management, and other cooperating agencies that flash flooding is in progress, imminent, or highly likely. (NOAA)
Flash Flood Warning
Issued to indicate current or developing hydrologic conditions that are favorable for flash flooding in and close to the watch area, but the occurrence is neither certain or imminent. (NOAA)
Flash Flood Watch
Flood
Any high flow, overflow, or inundation by water which causes or threatens damage. (NOAA)
Flood Advisory
Any high flow, overflow, or inundation by water which causes or threatens damage. (NOAA)
This advisory alerts the public to flooding which is generally only an inconvenience (not life-threatening) to those living in the affected area. Issued when heavy rain will cause flooding of streets and low-lying places in urban areas. Also used if small rural or urban streams are expected to reach or exceed bankfull. Some damage to homes or roads could occur. (NOAA)
Flood Statement
Flood Statement
In hydrologic terms, a statement issued by the NWS to inform the public of flooding along major streams in which there is not a serious threat to life or property. It may also follow a flood warning to give later information. (NOAA)
In hydrologic terms, a release by the NWS to inform the public of flooding along larger streams in which there is a serious threat to life or property. A flood warning will usually contain river stage (level) forecasts. (NOAA)
Flood Warning
Issued inform to the public and cooperating agencies that current and developing hydrometeorological conditions are such that there is a threat of flooding, but the occurrence is neither certain nor imminent. (NOAA)
Flood Watch
A freeze is when the surface air temperature is expected to be 32°F or below over a widespread area for a climatologically significant period of time. Use of the term is usually restricted to advective situations or to occasions when wind or other conditions prevent frost. "Killing" may be used during the growing season when the temperature is expected to be low enough for a sufficient duration to kill all but the hardiest herbaceous crops. (NOAA)
Freez
Issued during the growing season when surface temperatures are expected to drop below freezing over a large area for an extended period of time, regardless whether or not frost develops. (NOAA)
Freeze Warning
A freeze watch is issued during the growing season when the risk surface temperatures are expected to drop below freezing over a large area for an extended period of time, regardless whether or not frost develops; occurrence has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain.
Freeze Watch
A fog the droplets of which freeze upon contact with exposed objects and form a coating of rime and/or glaze. (NOAA)
Freezing Fog Advisory
An advisory for an accumulation of freezing water droplets on a vessel at a rate of less than 2 centimeters (cm) per hour caused by some appropriate combination of cold water, wind, cold air temperature, and vessel movement. (NOAA)
Freezing Spray Advisory
Issued during the growing season when widespread frost formation is expected over an extensive area. Surface temperatures are usually in the mid 30s Fahrenheit. (NOAA)
Frost Advisory
A warning of sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, in the range of 34 knots (39 mph) to 47 knots (54 mph) inclusive, either predicted or occurring, and not directly associated with a tropical cyclone. (NOAA)
Gale Warning
A watch for an increased risk of a gale force wind event for sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 34 knots (39 mph) to 47 knots (54 mph), but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. (NOAA)
Gale Watch
Showery precipitation in the form of irregular pellets or balls of ice more than 5 mm in diameter, falling from a cumulonimbus cloud. (NOAA)
The measurement value is based on the diameter of the largest hailstones observed to have fallen in or near the alert county, in inches. Hail less than 1 inch in diameter is considered minor; between 1 and 2 inches is considered moderate; hail between 2 and 3 inches is considered severe; and hail greater than 3 inches in diameter is considered extreme.
Hail
NWS issues a hard freeze warning when temperatures are expected to drop below 28°F for an extended period of time, killing most types of commercial crops and residential plants. Freeze Warning: Take Action! When temperatures are forecasted to go below 32°F for a long period of time, NWS issues a freeze warning. (NWS)
Hard Freeze Warning
A warning for wave heights and/or wave steepness values meeting or exceeding locally defined warning criteria. (NOAA)