Flood alert

Flood alerts are issued by weather agencies to alert residents that flood conditions are a possibility.

Types of flood alerts

In the United States, a flash flood watch is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) when weather conditions are favorable for very heavy rain that could cause flooding or flash flooding. A watch does not mean that flooding is actually occurring, only that weather conditions have created or will create a significant risk for it. If flooding actually does occur, a flood warning or flash flood warning would be issued and immediate action should be taken. A flood warning or flash flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or already occurring. When flood warnings are issued, it means that area waterways will likely soon be in flood. Not all flood watches suggest that large-scale flooding, such as during landfalling tropical cyclones, is possible.

Flood alerts in other countries

In Canada, a heavy rainfall warning, which indicates rainfall amounts that could produce flooding are expected, has basically the same meaning as a flood watch.

In Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology issues a flood watch that covers similar conditions to Flood Watches in the United States. However, they are known by slightly different names in some areas.

In Europe, there is the European Flood Alert System.

References

Severe weather terminology in the United States

Severe
storms

Thunderstorm	Advisory Watch PDS Watch Warning

Tornado	Watch PDS Watch Warning PDS Warning Emergency

Marine Thunderstorm	Special marine warning

Winter
weather

Advisories	Winter Weather Advisory

Winter storm	Watch Warning

Blizzard/Blowing Snow	Blowing Snow advisory Blizzard watch Blizzard warning

Heavy snow	Warning

Lake-effect snow	Advisory Watch Warning

Ice	Freezing rain advisory Ice storm warning

Tropical
Cyclones

Tropical storms	Watch Warning

Hurricanes	Watch Warning

Inland Advisories	Inland Tropical Storm Watch Inland Tropical Storm Warning Inland Hurricane Watch Inland Hurricane Warning

Hurricane Local Statement

Flood

Flood	Watch Warning

Flash flood	Watch PDS Watch Warning Emergency

Coastal flood	Advisory Watch Warning

Lakeshore flood	Advisory Watch Warning Seiche Warning

River flood	Advisory Watch Warning

Urban and small stream flood	Advisory

Apparent
temperature

Heat index	Heat advisory Excessive heat watch Excessive heat warning

Wind chill	Advisory Watch Warning PDS Warning

Extreme cold	Watch Warning

Freeze	Watch Warning Hard Freeze Warning Frost Advisory

Maritime
and
coastal
weather

Marine Winds	Small craft advisory Brisk wind advisory Lake Wind Advisory

Gale	Watch Warning

Storm	Watch Warning

Hurricane Force Wind	Watch Warning

Hazardous Seas	Watch Warning

Freezing Spray	Freezing spray advisory Heavy freezing spray watch Heavy freezing spray warning

High Surf	Advisory Warning

Wind

Advisory-Force Winds	Wind Advisory

Gale-Force Winds	High wind watch High wind warning

Major Hurricane-Force Winds	Extreme wind warning

Airborne
particulates

Dust/sand	Blowing Dust Advisory Dust Storm Warning

Fog/Smoke	Dense Fog Advisory Dense Smoke Advisory

Ash	Ashfall Advisory

Air pollution	Air Stagnation Advisory

Fire

Aviation

Center Weather Advisory
SIGMET
Volcanic Ash Advisory

Weather scales
used by NWS

Beaufort (wind)
Enhanced Fujita (tornadoes)
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (tropical cyclones)

Other

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