Weather Alerts
Weather Alert Cheat Sheet: Watch, Warning, Advisory, Outlook, and Emergency
A simple weather alert cheat sheet explaining watches, warnings, advisories, outlooks, emergencies, and special weather statements.
Quick answer: A watch means prepare, a warning means act, an advisory means disruptive conditions are expected, and an emergency means a rare especially dangerous situation is underway.
Watch
A watch means ingredients are present for hazardous weather. Use the time to prepare and monitor updates.
Do not wait until a warning to figure out your shelter or route.
Warning
A warning means the hazard is happening or expected soon in the warned area.
For tornadoes, flash floods, destructive wind, or dangerous winter conditions, take action immediately.
Advisory and outlook
An advisory covers conditions that may be hazardous or disruptive but usually below warning criteria.
An outlook gives earlier, broader guidance about possible hazards.