Inventory businesses are frequently advised to check the forecast and have a plan for severe weather. But advice often ends there. Less attention is paid to the different types of weather alerts, what they mean and what to do with them.

For a business like inventory, weather matters. Here’s how to get the most out of weather alerts, including what to know about the weather alert system and its terminology, plus advice on how your business can monitor, interpret and act on weather information in ways that minimize inventory risk.

Weather Forecasts and Weather Alert Basics

It’s easy to take an everyday part of life like the weather for granted, but a lot of thought goes into keeping us informed. Weather information makes its way out to the public in two main ways: forecasts and alerts. Almost everyone’s familiar with the traditional weather forecast:

• Local, regional and national broadcasters going live with forecasts throughout the day.
• Meteorologists giving out weather information while pointing at maps and charts.
• Information covering current conditions and expectations over the next hours and days.

Newspapers, apps and websites also publish updated printed forecasts with similar information. These forecasts focus on being timely, include helpful graphics for easier understanding and often offer practical advice on how to prepare for the forecasted weather.

The weather alert system is a more recent innovation. Unlike a full, live weather broadcast or general-purpose text-based forecast, the weather alert system is able to send out instant, automated notifications directly from the National Weather Service. The information communicated, and its intended purpose, is also different.

Weather alerts are designed to:

• Provide crucial information to protect property and save lives from imminent weather threats like thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash floods, blizzards and hurricanes.
• Get information out faster, since alerts are instant and automatic. This helps weather broadcasters and publishers convey a sense of urgency and the need for action.
• Improve public awareness and trust regarding all types of weather information, leading to more people putting important weather information to use in their lives and businesses.

Some weather alerts can be put out in some of the same formats as forecasts, such as TV broadcasts or online. However, alerts are also broadcast to the public through more tech-savvy methods, such as SMS text messages, push notifications in weather apps and more. Some businesses even subscribe to specific weather services and tools that send out alerts.

Weather Alert Terminology

The terminology used in the weather alert system is another aspect of the weather that is generally familiar, but where the specifics can be less clear. Alerts are organized into several levels of importance, risk and severity:

Outlook

A weather outlook is used to communicate that hazardous weather conditions may develop. Outlooks are intended to give the audience a considerable lead time to prepare for certain types of weather events, such as storms, wind or precipitation, and generally look ahead two to seven days in the future.

Watch

A weather watch is issued when hazardous weather conditions are likely to occur. A watch carries more certainty than an outlook that something may happen, but the timing, location and specifics are still uncertain. Watches are intended to provide enough time to put an action plan in motion.

Advisory

A weather advisory is issued when hazardous weather conditions are very likely and may already be imminent or already occurring. Advisories alert an audience to a weather inconvenience and the potential for risks to life and property — if proper caution isn’t exercised. Advisories tell an audience to prepare for weather now or in the very near future.

Warning

A weather warning is issued when hazardous weather conditions are very likely, imminent or already occurring and that pose a threat to life or property in a specific area. A weather warning is the highest level of alert, often communicated through emergency broadcasts and text messages, instructing affected communities to take immediate action. Warnings may advise an audience not to travel, seek shelter or even evacuate, depending on the weather event.

More Weather Alert Terms

Beyond these basic categories of alerts, you are also likely to encounter alerts related to specific weather threats.

Thunderstorm Alerts – These are one of the most frequently issued type of alert. Severe thunderstorms can be dangerous because of the risk of lightning strikes, downed trees, hail and tornadoes. Watch alerts may be issued before a storm for a wider area, while warnings inform a localized area of current hazards.

Tornado Alerts – Tornadoes get their own category of alerts, due to their extreme risk of causing damage and injury. Tornado watches indicate regional conditions may support the formation of tornadoes, while tornado warnings are issued for a specific area when an actual tornado is currently identified on weather radar or reported on the ground by trained spotters.

Wind Alerts – Besides tornadoes, a variety of other wind alerts are possible. Wind advisories are issued in strong winds. High wind advisories, watches and warnings are possible for winds over 40 mph. Gale warnings are issued near bodies of water. Extreme wind warnings of winds over 100 mph are possible in certain remote regions, while hurricane-force wind warnings often accompany tropical cyclones.

Flood Alerts – Flood alerts can warn communities of the risk of roads being washed out and persons becoming trapped by flood waters. It’s also an indicator of a risk to vulnerable inventory. Coastal flood advisories, watches and warnings are possible near bodies of water. Flash flood watches and warnings can affect inland low-lying areas not near a lake or river.

Fire Weather Alerts – Alerts related to wildfires have become more common in recent years as the fire threat to life and property has increased. Fire weather warnings are issued when a fire is possible. Red flag warnings are more serious and indicate the existence of very hazardous conditions.

Tropical Storm and Hurricane Alerts – Tropical cyclones are a major threat to major population centers and have several categories of alerts. Tropical storm watches and warnings deal with storms with wind speeds between 39–73 mph. Hurricane watches and warnings address storms with winds over 74 mph. Watches offer a lead time of 48 hours for precautionary preparations, while warnings give 36 hours of advance notice a storm will likely hit an area.

Snow and Blizzard Alerts – Winter storms have their own category of alerts, too. Winter weather advisories warn about sleet or snow, helping communities prepare for school closings, travel issues and power outages. Winter storm watches give 3–5 days of notice of a storm, while warnings are issued within 12–24 hours. Blizzard warnings are also issued when high winds and low visibility accompany storms.

Cold Weather Alerts – Cold weather alerts can indicate hazards for agriculture, travel and working outdoors. Frost and freeze watches and warnings are issued when temperatures dip near or below freezing, while wind chill advisories and warnings are issued when high winds accompany low temperatures.

Hot Weather Alerts – Weather alerts can also give notice for actions to protect life and property during warm weather. Excessive heat watches are issued for dangerous temperatures expected in 24–48 hours and warnings are issued for conditions 12–24 hours out.

Other Weather Alerts – A number of other weather alerts are also possible, including hail watches and warnings, tsunami advisories, watches and warnings, and avalanche watches and warnings.

How to Act on Weather Alerts

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) says the cooperative partnership between the government, the scientific community and the commercial sector is key to protecting lives and property from severe weather. The organization developed best practices to serve as a guide for businesses taking action on the weather threats we all face:

Understand your weather risk. Think about how employees, customers and property are vulnerable in your location. Address these specific risks in your plan for severe weather.

Identify a safe location for employees and customers. Build severe weather plans with the location of your storm shelter or another designated best available refuge area in mind.

Create a severe weather plan document. AMS notes that lots of resources exist to help businesses do this, including business toolkits and local community risk assessments.

Take action when needed. Actionable weather that is possible, imminent or occurring requires a response, from monitoring alerts for updates to communicating important messages to employees and customers and following the steps laid out in business’s severe weather plan.

Managing Inventory Weather Risks

While we often overlook it, severe weather is the most likely business interruption. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a spring shower delaying outdoor work activities for a few minutes. But in other cases, weather can cause work stoppages that last months.

As an inventory business with product exposed to the elements, one of the best things you can do to prepare for severe weather is ensure your property is protected by the right insurance. Coverage from the 21st Mortgage Inventory Insurance Program is designed for your industry and your business.

Our coverage is built to adjust with your changing inventory, with flexible monthly billing that takes the guesswork out of ensuring your current inventory is protected. We have an in-house team of dedicated service representatives ready to answer your questions, assess your coverage needs and help process your claim. Visit us online to learn more.