Tropical cyclone warnings and watches: Difference between revisions
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'''See [[Severe weather terminology]] for a comprehensive article on this term and related weather terms.''' |
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'''Warnings and watches''' are two levels of alert issued by national [[weather forecasting]] bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a [[tropical cyclone]] of Tropical Storm or Hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate preparation for the cyclone, including evacuation of vulnerable areas where necessary. It is important that interests throughout the area of an alert make preparations to protect life and property, and do not disregard it on the strength of the detailed forecast track. Tropical cyclones are not points, and forecasting their track remains an uncertain science. |
'''Warnings and watches''' are two levels of alert issued by national [[weather forecasting]] bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a [[tropical cyclone]] of Tropical Storm or Hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate preparation for the cyclone, including evacuation of vulnerable areas where necessary. It is important that interests throughout the area of an alert make preparations to protect life and property, and do not disregard it on the strength of the detailed forecast track. Tropical cyclones are not points, and forecasting their track remains an uncertain science. |
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Revision as of 17:02, 8 August 2005
See Severe weather terminology for a comprehensive article on this term and related weather terms.
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of Tropical Storm or Hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate preparation for the cyclone, including evacuation of vulnerable areas where necessary. It is important that interests throughout the area of an alert make preparations to protect life and property, and do not disregard it on the strength of the detailed forecast track. Tropical cyclones are not points, and forecasting their track remains an uncertain science.
The following terminology used by the US National Hurricane Center is the model for countries around the North Atlantic and in the Caribbean basin:
Tropical storms
Before the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season, tropical storm alerts were described as Gale Watches / Warnings, not distinguished from non-tropical storms.
Tropical Storm Watch
A tropical storm watch (TRA) is issued when tropical storm conditions, including winds from 39 to 73 mph (35 to 64 knots, 63 to 117 km/h) pose a possible threat to a specified coastal area within 36 hours. Maritime flags indicate this with a single square red flag.
Tropical Storm Warning
A tropical storm warning (TRW) is issued when tropical storm conditions (as above) are expected in a specified coastal area within 24 hours or less. Maritime flags indicate this with two square red flags.
Hurricanes
Hurricane Watch
A hurricane watch (HWA) is issued for a specified coastal area for which a hurricane or a hurricane-related hazard is a possible threat within 36 hours. Maritime flags indicate this with a single square red flag with a black square in the middle.
Hurricane Warning
A hurricane warning (HWW) is issued when a hurricane with sustained winds of 74 mph (65 knots, 118 km/h) or higher is expected in a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less. Maritime flags indicate this with two square red flags with a black square in the middle of each.
A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continues, even though the winds may have subsided below hurricane intensity.
Where the intensity or track of a forecast cyclone are uncertain, a Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch are often in effect at the same time on parts of the coast. Maritime flags indicate this with two square red flags with a black square in the middle on only one of them.
Inland advisories
The following alerts are issued for inland areas that may see tropical storm or hurricane force wind and/or rain conditions, but are not located along the coast. These started appearing in the 2000s, originally with the word "Wind" inserted before the "Watch" or "Warning", which has been dropped for 2005. All appear to be issued with an Emergency Alert System event codes HWA and HWW, used for high wind watches and warnings, though they may now be under the same codes and regular tropical cyclone advisories.
Inland Tropical Storm Watch
Issued for inland areas when sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph (62 to 117 km/h) associated with a tropical storm are anticipated beyond the coastal areas though the actual occurrence, timing and location are still uncertain.
Inland Tropical Storm Warning
Issued for inland counties when tropical storm conditions are anticipated beyond the coastal areas in the next six to twelve hours.
Inland Hurricane Watch
Issued for inland counties that sustained winds of 74 mph (118 km/h) or greater associated with a hurricane are anticipated beyond the coastal areas though the actual occurrence, timing and location are still uncertain.
Inland Hurricane Warning
Issued for inland counties that sustained hurricane force winds are anticipated beyond the coastal areas in the next six to twelve hours.
Other advisories
Other advisories are also commonly issued in association with tropical cyclones, but are not specific to them. Tropical cyclones often produce tornadoes, prompting the issuing of severe thunderstorm and tornado watches and warnings. A wind advisory would be issued for wind conditions that are strong but below tropical storm force. Heavy rains associated with tropical systems often result in flood watches and warnings. Gale warnings are typically issued for areas surrounding the storm but where it is unlikely to travel. Still lighter winds carry a small craft advisory.
Regional notes
Before the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, these warnings were not issued in Canada (who simply issued standard wind and rain warnings). That policy was changed due to the lack of warning from four storms in 2003 that affected different land and offshore areas of Canada, the worst of which was Hurricane Juan in Nova Scotia. The inland watches and warnings are not differentiated from the coastal watches and warnings in Canada; the hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings can be issued for any forecast area.