National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Pacific Storms Continue to Impact the West; Severe Thunderstorms Forecast Thursday in the South

A series of Pacific storm systems will continue to impact the Northwest U.S. into this coming weekend with periods of gusty winds, high surf, low elevation rain, and heavy mountain snow. Severe thunderstorms will be possible on Thursday across central/east Texas into western Louisiana and possibly the ArkLaTex and southeast Oklahoma. Read More >

 

Severe Weather Awareness Week
Make a Plan Severe Thunderstorms Flash Flooding Tornadoes
Lightning Watches, Warnings, & Reception Mobile Home Safety
Watches, Warnings, & Reception
 
Wireless Emergency Alerts
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. Government partners include local and state public safety agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Weather Service. No signup is required! Alerts are sent automatically to WEA-capable phones during an emergency.
 

Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. With WEA, alerts can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm's way, without the need to download an app or subscribe to a service.

The graphics on the rest lists what types of alerts you will receive. These include:

  • Extreme Weather and Hydrologic Warnings
  • Local emergencies requiring evacuation or immediate action
  • AMBER Alerts
  • Blue Alerts
  • Presidential Alerts during a national emergency

What types of WEA messages will the National Weather Service send?

  • Tsunami Warnings
  • Tornado Warnings
  • Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, only when the damage threat is destructive (winds of at least 80 mph and/or hail of 2.75 inches in diameter or greater)
  • Flash Flood Warnings, only when the damage threat is considerable or catastrophic
  • Hurricane, Typhoon, Storm Surge, and Extreme Wind Warnings
  • Dust Storm and Snow Squall Warnings

WEA messages include a special tone and vibration and both will be repeated twice.

 

Wireless Emergency Alerts - English
With a unique sound and vibration, Wireless Emergency Alerts keep you in the know, wherever you are.
Wireless Emergency Alerts - Español
Con una alerta de sonido y vibración Alertas Inalámbricas de Emergencia te mantienen al tanto donde estés.
 
 
What does a WEA message look like?
Examples of Wireless Emergency Alerts in English and Spanish.
WEA will look like a text message. The WEA message will typically show the type and time of the alerts, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert.

 

 

When you receive a WEA, following any action advised by the emergency message. Seek more details from your favorite TV or radio station, NOAA Weather Radio, news website, desktop or mobile app, or other trust source of information.

If you travel into a threat area after an alert if first sent, your WEA-capable device will receive the message when you enter the area.

 
 
NOAA Weather Radio
Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service," NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of more than 1000 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Island, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. These stations broadcast continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Click here to learn more about NOAA Weather Radio.

Click here to look at coverage maps to find the best NWR frequency for your location.
 
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