Tropical Watches and Warnings

Wind chill watches and warnings – windchill advisories are related to the perception of cold on the skin and to the damage the combination of wind and cold can do on individuals. A wind chill warning means you expect to see severe frostbite or hypothermia from this combination. The criteria for windchill advisories vary from place to place. In 2021, the wind chill warning has been replaced by what is called the Extreme Cold Warning Product. This advisory will include the combination of cold and windchill rather than just the windchill. In general, a particularly dangerous situation windchill warning means that the windchill is less than forty degrees Fahrenheit.

TROPICAL WATCHES AND WARNINGS

We will talk more about hurricanes in the next chapter. For now, we will talk only about the watches and warnings you might send out.

Tropical Storm Watch or Warning – this type of watch or warning means you expect a tropical storm. By definition, a tropical storm as conditions where the wind is as high as seventy-two miles per hour and as low as thirty-nine miles per hour. It could also mean you expect a storm surge and/or coastal flooding. A watch is issued only when the conditions are right and such a storm is possible.

Hurricane watches and warnings – this type of watch or warning is issued when you expect winds greater than seventy-four miles per hour. A warning is issued when you expect this type of storm within thirty-six hours. In areas like Guam, a typhoon warning is issued instead. A hurricane local statement is given when you are trying to tell the public specifics about a hurricane, such as evacuation measures and special precautions. You would indicate an extreme wind warning if you expected winds in excess of 120 miles per hour, usually seen in the eye wall of a significant hurricane. These need to be issued within two hours of the expected event.