Hurricanes
Weather warnings — What they mean
The National Weather Service issues "advisories" and other releases to inform the public of storm warnings, to recommend precautions, and to furnish details on location and intensity of storms.
Residents of areas subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms should know what these storm terms mean:
- Gale warning - Winds of 39 to 54 miles per hour are expected.
- Hurricane force winds - Winds of 74 miles per hour (63 knots) or higher.
- Hurricane watch - An announcement that a tropical storm or hurricane is a potential threat to coastal areas. This is not a warning that a hurricane is definitely coming. It means that the storm is near enough that everyone in the area covered by the "watch" should listen to advisories and take recommended actions if hurricane warnings are issued.
- Hurricane warning - An announcement that hurricane winds of 74 miles per hour or higher, and/or a combination of dangerously high water and rough seas are expected in a specific coastal area. When a warning is issued, hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours.
- Squall - A strong wind, usually accompanied by a thunderstorm or shower. The wind will probably increase suddenly in speed, maintain peak speed for 2 minutes or longer, and then decrease quickly.
- Storm surge - abnormally high water produced by the effect of wind stress and low barometric pressure.
- Storm tide - Abnormally high water (above local mean sea level), associated with hurricanes or tropical storms approaching or moving across the coastline. It consists of the normal tide and the storm surge.
- Storm warning - Winds of 55 to 73 miles per hour are expected.
- More Terms from the National Hurricane Center's Tropical Prediction Center >>