Watches, warnings and being ready
Forecasters give people days of notice. Here’s what the words mean and what families are told to do, from NOAA and the National Hurricane Center.
Watch or warning?
A hurricane watch is issued 48 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected. NOAA Ocean Service: Hurricane watch or warning?
During a hurricane watch: prepare your home and review your plan for evacuation. NOAA Ocean Service: Hurricane watch or warning?
A hurricane warning is issued 36 hours ahead, because getting ready becomes difficult once winds reach tropical storm force. NOAA Ocean Service: Hurricane watch or warning?
During a hurricane warning: finish storm preparations and leave the threatened area immediately if local officials tell you to. NOAA Ocean Service: Hurricane watch or warning?
A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible. A hurricane warning means they are expected. NOAA Ocean Service: Hurricane watch or warning?
A “potential tropical cyclone” is a disturbance that isn’t a tropical cyclone yet, but could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to land within 72 hours. National Hurricane Center: Glossary
Before the season
NOAA says the time to prepare is before hurricane season begins: 1 June in the Atlantic and central Pacific, 15 May in the eastern Pacific. NOAA Education: Hurricanes
Know your risk, especially if you live in a storm surge evacuation zone or somewhere that could flood. Even if you’ve been through a storm before, the next one may bring different hazards. NOAA Education: Hurricanes
If you live in a low-lying or flood-prone area, have an evacuation plan before a storm begins. NOAA Education: Hurricanes
When a storm is coming
Be prepared to evacuate, and go immediately when ordered. Orders can come before any storm watch or warning. NOAA Education: Hurricanes Always follow evacuation orders, and never drive into flooded roads. NOAA Education: Hurricanes
Where flooding is a risk, get to high ground away from water. In high winds with no flooding, shelter in a sturdy building away from doors and windows. NOAA Education: Hurricanes
In the USA, warnings are broadcast on TV and radio, including NOAA Weather Radio. Met Office: Tropical cyclone warnings
In the USA, getting people away from the coast can mean the mass evacuation of a million or more people. Met Office: Tropical cyclone warnings In some places, specially designed shelters are built in advance, where people can ride out the worst of the weather. Met Office: Tropical cyclone warnings
NOAA’s rule: run from the water, hide from the wind. That’s why most evacuation orders are given for water, not wind. NOAA Education: Hurricanes
After the storm
Hazards don’t disappear when the weather clears. NOAA advises against going into storm-damaged areas too soon, and many deaths are reported after storms end. NOAA Education: Hurricanes
Test yourself: Hurricane Ready Dash →
This page explains the general advice from NOAA and the National Hurricane Center. In a real storm, follow your national weather service and local officials.
Next: Hurricane Hunters →