Storm warning

Meteorological warning about a coming storm

For other uses, see Storm Warning (disambiguation). For weather warnings in general, see Weather warning.

"Storm watch" redirects here. For other uses, see Stormwatch (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Tropical storm warning or Severe thunderstorm warning.

The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (September 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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Storm warning flag (US)

At sea, a storm warning is a warning issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when winds between 48 and 63 knots (89 and 117 km/h; 55 and 72 mph) are occurring or predicted to occur soon. The winds must not be associated with a tropical cyclone.[1] If the winds are associated with a tropical cyclone, a tropical storm warning will be substituted for the storm warning and less severe gale warning.

In US maritime warning flag systems, a red square flag with a black square taking up the middle ninth of the flag is used to indicate a storm warning (the use of two such flags denotes a hurricane force wind warning or a hurricane warning). The same flag as a storm warning is used to indicate a tropical storm warning.

On land, the National Weather Service issues a 'high wind warning' (Specific Area Message Encoding code: HWW) for storm-force winds, which also encompasses the lesser gale-force and greater hurricane force winds. In most cases, the warning applies to winds of 40-114 mph for at least 1 hour; or any gusts of 58–114 miles per hour on land unless a tropical storm warning, blizzard warning, winter storm warning, severe thunderstorm warning, or dust storm warning covers the phenomenon. Winds in excess of 115 mph (100 kn) will always result in new issuance of an extreme wind warning shortly before their onset, typically right before the eyewall of a major hurricane makes landfall, but possibly as a substitute for a severe thunderstorm warning in an extreme derecho event. The only exception is that if the extreme winds are associated with a tornado, a tornado warning (or more likely a tornado emergency) will be issued instead.

## Weather Warning Flags (United States)

[edit]

* Small Craft Advisory Flag

* Gale Warning Flags

* Storm Warning Flag

* Hurricane Warning Flags

## Example

[edit]

The following is an example of a storm warning issued by the National Weather Service office in Seattle, Washington.[2]

246
WHUS76 KSEW 180451
MWWSEW

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
851 PM PST SUN JAN 17 2010

PZZ150-153-156-170-173-176-181300-
/O.UPG.KSEW.GL.W.0087.000000T0000Z-100118T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KSEW.SR.W.0003.100118T0451Z-100118T2000Z/
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE FLATTERY TO JAMES ISLAND OUT 10 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM JAMES ISLAND TO POINT GRENVILLE OUT 10 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM POINT GRENVILLE TO CAPE SHOALWATER OUT 10 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE FLATTERY TO JAMES ISLAND 10 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM JAMES ISLAND TO POINT GRENVILLE 10 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM POINT GRENVILLE TO CAPE SHOALWATER 10 TO
60 NM-
851 PM PST SUN JAN 17 2010

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A STORM
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST MONDAY. THE GALE
WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A STORM WARNING MEANS WINDS OF 48 TO 63 KNOTS ARE IMMINENT OR
OCCURRING. RECREATIONAL BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT OR TAKE
SHELTER UNTIL THE WINDS AND WAVES SUBSIDE. COMMERCIAL VESSELS
SHOULD PREPARE FOR VERY STRONG WINDS AND DANGEROUS SEA
CONDITIONS...AND CONSIDER REMAINING IN PORT OR TAKING SHELTER IN
PORT UNTIL WINDS AND WAVES SUBSIDE.

## See also

[edit]

* Severe weather terminology (United States)
* Small craft advisory
* Gale warning
* Hurricane warning

## References

[edit]

1. ^ National Weather Service. "Storm Warning". Glossary - National Weather Service. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
2. ^ National Weather Service. "Storm Warning". Iowa Environmental Mesonet NWS Product Archive. Retrieved 21 July 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* National Weather Service

* v
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Severe weather terminology in the United States

Severe
storms|

| Thunderstorm|

* Advisory
* Watch
* PDS watch
* Warning

|

Tornado|

* Watch
* PDS watch
* Warning
* PDS warning
* Emergency

Marine thunderstorm|

* Special marine warning

Winter
weather|

| Advisories|

* Winter weather advisory

|

Winter storm|

* Watch
* Warning

Blizzard/blowing snow|

* Blowing snow advisory
* Blizzard watch
* Blizzard warning

Heavy snow|

* Warning

Lake-effect snow|

* Advisory
* Watch
* Warning

Snow squall|

* Warning

Ice|

* Freezing rain advisory
* Ice storm warning

Avalanche|

* Warning
* Watch
* Advisory

Tropical
cyclones|

| Tropical storms|

* Watch
* Warning

|

Hurricanes|

* Watch
* Warning

Typhoons|

* Watch
* Warning

Cyclones|

* Watch
* Warning

Storm surge|

* Watch
* Warning

* Hurricane local statement
* Tropical storm local statement
* Tropical depression local statement

Flood|

| Flood|

* Watch
* Warning
* Advisory

|

Flash flood|

* Watch
* PDS watch
* Warning
* Emergency

Coastal flood|

* Advisory
* Watch
* Warning
* Statement

Lakeshore flood|

* Warning
* Advisory
* Watch
* Statement

River flood|

* Advisory
* Watch
* Warning

Urban and small stream flood|

* Advisory

Apparent
temperature|

| Heat index|

* Heat advisory
* Excessive heat watch
* Excessive heat warning

|

Wind chill|

* Cold Weather Advisory
* Extreme Cold Watch
* Extreme Cold Warning
* PDS warning

Extreme cold|

* Warning

Freeze|

* Watch
* Warning
* Hard freeze warning
* Frost advisory
* Hard freeze watch

Maritime
and
coastal
weather|

| Marine winds|

* Small craft advisory
* Brisk wind advisory
* Lake wind advisory

|

Gale|

* Watch
* Warning

Storm|

* Watch
* Warning

Hurricane-force wind|

* Warning
* Watch

Hazardous seas|

* Watch
* Warning

Freezing spray|

* Freezing spray advisory
* Heavy freezing spray watch
* Heavy freezing spray warning

* Marine weather statement
* Rip current statement
* Beach hazards statement

High surf|

* High surf advisory
* High surf warning
* High surf watch

Wind|

| Advisory-force winds|

* Wind advisory

|

Gale-force winds|

* High wind watch
* High wind warning

Major hurricane-force winds|

* Extreme wind warning

Airborne
particulates|

| Dust/sand|

* Blowing dust advisory
* Blowing dust warning
* Dust advisory
* Dust storm warning

|

Fog/Smoke|

* Dense fog advisory
* Dense smoke advisory

Ash|

* Ashfall advisory
* Ashfall warning

Air pollution|

* Air stagnation advisory
* Air quality alert

Fire|

* Red flag warning
* Fire warning
* Evacuation immediate
* Fire weather watch

Aviation|

* SIGMET
* Volcanic ash advisory

Weather scales
used by NWS|

* Beaufort (wind)
* Enhanced Fujita (tornadoes)
* Saffir–Simpson scale (tropical cyclones)

Other|

* Special weather statement
* Severe weather statement
* Hazardous weather outlook

Tsunami|

* Watch
* Warning
* Advisory

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