Watch vs. warning
A watch means dangerous conditions are possible. A warning means they are expected. The National Hurricane Center issues them for stretches of coastline, and they appear in color on our live map.
| Alert | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane watch | Hurricane conditions (74 mph+ winds) are possible, usually within 48 hours. | Finish your prep: fuel, water, medicine, cash. Bring in loose items. Review your evacuation plan. |
| Hurricane warning | Hurricane conditions are expected, usually within 36 hours. | Finish securing your home and leave if you're told to or live in a mobile home or surge zone. |
| Tropical storm watch | 39 to 73 mph winds are possible, usually within 48 hours. | Get ready for outages and flooding rain. |
| Tropical storm warning | 39 to 73 mph winds are expected, usually within 36 hours. | Finish prep. Stay off the water and roads once it starts. |
| Storm surge watch | Life-threatening flooding from rising sea water is possible, usually within 48 hours. | Know your evacuation zone and where you'll go. |
| Storm surge warning | Life-threatening flooding from rising sea water is expected, usually within 36 hours. | Evacuate if officials tell you to. Surge is the deadliest part of most hurricanes. |
| Extreme wind warning | Issued by the local NWS office when the strongest winds of a major hurricane are about to hit. | Go to an interior room on the lowest floor now, as you would for a tornado. |
Why watches come so early
Wind and water make outdoor preparation dangerous or impossible once tropical-storm-force winds arrive, so watches and warnings are timed to give you a window before the first strong winds, not before landfall.
See the alerts in effect for your town on the live tracker, and use the prep guide to know what to do at each stage.
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Local storm-prep businessesGeneral information, not an official forecast. Always follow the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service and your local emergency management.