National Weather Service Advisories, Watches and Warnings

  

Severe Weather Advisory, Severe Weather Watch, Severe Weather Warning Definitions

 

The National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use a series of weather indicators to identify and categorize adverse weather conditions. Weather conditions are assigned one of the following Weather Indicators, which have increasing levels of severity:

Weather Advisory
An Advisory is issued when a hazardous weather event is occurring or has a very high probability of occurrence. Advisories describe hazardous weather events that cause significant inconvenience, but are not life threatening if caution is exercised.
Weather Watch
A Watch is issued when the risk of a hazardous or severe weather event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain.
Weather Warning
A Warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is occurring, imminent, or has a high probability of occurring. Warnings are used for weather conditions posing a threat to life or property.