The National Weather Service (NWS) is the official U.S. government agency charged with issuing weather watches, warnings, and advisories and is the source used by iAlert.com. Below is the criteria used by NWS forecasters when issuing a hurricane watch or hurricane warning for the affected coastline.
HURRICANE WATCH: means hurricane conditions of at least 74 mph (64 kt or 119 kph) are possible within 36 hours for affected coastline.
HURRICANE WARNING: means hurricane conditions of at least 74 mph (64 kt or 119 kph) are expected for defined coastal area within 24 hours or less.
A hurricane is more powerful than a tropical. Criteria for Tropical Storm
Learn more about the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Looking for the criteria for a tornado warning, criteria of a severe thunderstorm warning, or weather glossary? Criteria For a Hurricane Warning
The National Weather Service (NWS) is the official U.S. government agency charged with issuing weather watches, warnings, and advisories and is the source used by iAlert.com. Below is the criteria used by NWS forecasters when issuing a hurricane watch or hurricane warning for the affected coastline.
HURRICANE WATCH: means hurricane conditions of at least 74 mph (64 kt or 119 kph) are possible within 36 hours for affected coastline.
HURRICANE WARNING: means hurricane conditions of at least 74 mph (64 kt or 119 kph) are expected for defined coastal area within 24 hours or less.
A hurricane is more powerful than a tropical. Criteria for Tropical Storm
Learn more about the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Looking for the criteria for a tornado warning, criteria of a severe thunderstorm warning, or weather glossary?
This entry was posted in Weather Glossary and tagged coastal area, glossary, Hurricane, hurricane conditions, hurricane warning, hurricane watch, Tropical, watches warnings, weather glossary. Bookmark the permalink.
Read More
2,392 Storm Reports: A Dangerous 3-Day U.S. Outbreak
From June 10 to 12, 2026, the U.S. recorded 2,392 storm reports across 41 states, one of the busier three-day spans of the season, alongside more than 1,400 National Weather Service watches, warnings, and advisories. The…
El Nino Forecast: NOAA Declares El Nino Has Formed and May Strengthen This Fall
El Nino forecast updates from NOAA confirm that El Nino has officially developed in the tropical Pacific Ocean, and federal forecasters expect it to intensify through the coming months. NOAA issued a formal El Nino Advisory…
Midwest Severe Thunderstorms Outbreak: Tornadoes, Hurricane-Force Winds, and 400K Without Power
Midwest severe thunderstorms are producing a significant outbreak across a multistate region today, June 11, 2026, with the Storm Prediction Center declaring a Moderate Risk for parts of eastern Iowa and northern Illinois, one of the…