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
Great Lakes Mid-Atlantic Severe Thunderstorms: Slight Risk of Damaging Wind, Hail, and Tornadoes September 2, 2026
Great Lakes Mid-Atlantic severe thunderstorms are the main weather story for September 2, 2026. In its 05:57 UTC (1:57 am EDT / 12:57 am CDT) Day 1 outlook, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center drew a Slight…
Gulf Coast Tropical Storm Warning: Potential Tropical Cyclone Five Targets Texas and Louisiana Tuesday
Gulf Coast tropical storm conditions are expected to arrive as early as Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as Potential Tropical Cyclone Five moves west-northwest toward the upper Texas and southwestern Louisiana coast with an 80 percent formation…
Tropical Storm Dolly Forms Over the Central Atlantic: Leeward Islands Should Monitor Progress
Tropical Storm Dolly formed over the central tropical Atlantic on Thursday, August 27, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and a westward track aimed at the Leeward Islands by this weekend, prompting the National…