Home > Local Offices > Mobile, AL > All Posts > UPDATED ALERTS LIST AND CRITERIA
By Wyatt Huber (Meteorologist In Charge)
Posted on Tue, Jan 13, 2026 at 6:56 AM CST
ALERTS
USA Weather Inc. issues numerous alerts, notifications, and statements for different hazardous weather conditions. This is a listing of all alerts that may be issued within the Mobile Local Forecast Office (LFO), and the criteria that is required for issuance.
Alert: An "alert" is issued when hazardous weather conditions are expected within 24 to 36 hours, and poses a threat to life and/or property.
Notification: A "notification" is issued when adverse weather conditions are expected but should only remain a minor inconvenience and not an immeidate or direct and significant threat to life and/or property.
Statement: A "statement" is issued when hazardous weather conditions are possible within 48 hours.
Extremely Hazardous Situation (EHS): An alert may be tagged as an "Extremely Hazardous Situation (EHS)" if it poses an exeptionally significant threat to life and property. An EHS alert will incorperate enhanced impact wording and stronger preperation messages.
Air Quality Alert: Code orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) or higher air quality values are expected.
Beach Hazard Notification: Issued to alert beachgoers for high surf in excess of 8 feet. It may also be used for other rare events, such as polluted water, dangerous red tide conditions, dangerous marine life, etc.
Black Ice Notification: Issued when black ice is expected on roadways. Usually occurs when temperatures plummet below freezing shortly after a heavy rainfall event, not allowing time for roadways to dry before freezing.
Blizzard Alert: Blizzard conditions are expected within 36 hours. In order for a winter storm to be classified as a blizzard, it MUST have sustained winds or frequent gusts over 35 mph, visibility of less than 1/4 of a mile from falling/blowing snow, and it must last for 3 consecutive hours. These conditions are extremely rare in the deep south, and any Blizzard Alert issued will be tagged "EHS".
Blizzard Statement: Blizzard conditions are possible within 48 hours.
Blowing Dust Alert: Seldom issued along the Gulf Coast, but will be issued if blowing dust or sand reduces visibilities to under 1 mile.
Blowing Snow Alert: Blowing snow is expected to substantially reduce visibility, but not meeting blizzard criteria.
Coastal Flood Alert: Significant coastal flooding of low-lying areas, roadways, and in severe cases, homes, businesses, and other coastal structures are expected. This may be accompanied with large, breaking waves and beach erosion. Will be tagged "EHS" if the flood threat is "catastrophic".
Coastal Flood Notification: Minor coastal flooding is expected within 36 hours.
Coastal Flood Statement: Significant coastal flooding will be possible within 48 hours.
Dense Fog Alert: Widespread dense fog reduces visibility to under 1/2 of a mile.
Dense Smoke Alert: Dense smoke reduces visibility to under 1 mile. Because of potentially isolated but highly impactful nature of dense smoke from wildfires, only isolated areas with dense smoke will warrant a Dense Smoke Alert.
Extreme Cold Alert: Dangerously cold air temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees (15 to 25 over coastal counties) are expected within 36 hours. Will be tagged EHS for air temperatures of 10 degrees (15 degrees over coastal counties) or less.
Extreme Cold Statement: Extreme cold alert criteria may be met within 48 hours.
Extreme Heat Alert: Heat indicies over 113 or air temperatures over 105 are expected within 36 hours. Will be tagged EHS for heat indicies over 120 or air temperatures over 108 OR aforementioned non-EHS criteria is met for a prolonged period of several days, including overnight low over 80.
Extreme Heat Statement: Extreme Heat Alert criteria may be met within 48 hours.
Fire Danger Alert: The combination of low humidity under 30%, winds over 15 mph, and widespread dry fuels will result in the potential for dangerous fire weather conditions. Will be tagged EHS if these conditions are exceptionally severe, and any fire may rapidly/erratically spread. Widespread exceptionally dry fuel is to be expected for EHS conditions.
Fire Danger Notification: Weather conditions below alert criteria are expected but a threat for dangerous fire weather conditions is still present.
Fire Danger Statement: Fire Danger Alert criteria may be met within 48 hours.
Flash Flood Alert: Heavy rainfall has resulted in flash flooding. Will be tagged EHS if the flooding is exceptionally severe and produces a significant threat to life/property.
Flash Flood Statement: Heavy rainfall is expected and potential for flash flooding is high.
Flood Alert: Extended periods of rainfall has resulted in areal flooding. Will be tagged EHS if the flooding is exceptionally severe and produces a significant threat to life/property.
Flood Notification: Minor urban and small stream flooding is ongoing.
Flood Statement: Extended periods of rainfall is expected, and areal flooding may result.
Freeze Alert: Air temperatures at or below 32 degrees are expected during the growing season or after a prolonged period of anomously warm conditions allowing for new growth to occur.
Freeze Statement: Freezing air temperatures are possible during the growing season or after a prolonged period of anomously warm conditions allowing for new growth to occur.
Freezing Fog Alert: Freezing fog with any significant visibility reductions are expected. Slick roads and bridges are possible due to ice.
Frost Alert: Widespread frost formation is expected within 36 hours during the growing season or after a prolonged period of anomously warm conditions allowing for new growth to occur.
Frost Statement: Widespread frost formation is possible within 48 hours during the growing season or after a prolonged period of anomously warm conditions allowing for new growth to occur.
Heat Alert: Heat indicies between 108 to 112 degrees are expected within 36 hours. Issuance of this alert can also be made for lower heat index or air temperature values when they are anomously warm for the time period (e.g. 85-90 degree highs in December).
Heat Statement: Heat indicies between 108 to 112 degrees are possible within 48 hours.
Heavy Snow Alert: Snow accumulations of 2" or greater are expected over purple counties, or 1" or greater over blue counties. Will be tagged EHS if: Snowfall accumulations of 5" or greater in purple counties or 4" or greater in blue.
Heavy Snow Statement: Heavy snow alert criteria may be met within 48 hours.
High Wind Alert: Non-convective, sustained winds of 40 to 49 mph and/or gusts of 55 to 69 mph are expected to last for one hour or greater. Will be tagged EHS if sustained wind speeds are 50 mph or higher and/or gusts are 70 mph or higher.
High Wind Statement: High wind speeds are possible within 48 hours.
Hurricane Alert: Hurricane-Force Winds of 74 mph, but not exceeding 111mph in association with a landfalling hurricane are expected within the next 24 hours. Will be tagged EHS if the maximum winds are expected to exceed 111 mph in association with a major hurricane.
Hurricane Statement: Hurricane-Force Winds of 74 mph in association with a landfalling hurricane are expected within the next 48 hours.
Hydrologic Notification: This product is issued if minor flooding not due to rainfall is imminent or occuring. This would typically be from snowmelt or river flooding due to a dam break. If significant flooding is expedcted from these causes, a flood or flash flood alert will be issued.
Ice Alert: Freezing rain resulting in significant ice accumulations of 1/4 to 1/2 inch are expected. Will be tagged EHS if ice accumulations exceed 1/2 of an inch.
Ice Notification: Freezing rain resulting in ice accumulations of up to 1/4 of an inch are expected. This product will also be issued if freezing drizzle is expected.
Ice Statement: Freezing rain resulting in significant ice accumulations at or above 1/4 inch are possible within 48 hours.
PLT Wind Alert: Potentially life-threatening winds of 111 mph or greater are expected within an hour due to the eyewall of a major hurricane or are imminent due to a derecho.
Rip Current Alert: Issued between March 1 and November 1 when there is a high risk of deadly rip currents within 24 hours.
Rip Current Statement: Issued between March 1 and November 1 when there is a high risk of deadly rip currents within 48 hours.
Severe Thunderstorm Alert: A convective thunderstorm has the potential to produce damaging winds between 60 to 79 mph and/or large hail between 1 to 2.5 inches. Will be tagged EHS if winds reach or exceed 80 mph and/or hail exceeds 2.5".
Snow Alert: Snow accumulations not exceeding Heavy Snow Alert criteria is expected; Issued within 36 hours of event.
Snow Statement: Snow Alert criteria may be met within 48 hours.
Snow Squall Alert: Issued when a snow squall is imminent or occuring. Snow-squalls are localized bursts of snow severely reducing visibility and making travel extremely dangerous. Flash freezing on roads can be issued.
Strong Storm Alert: A thunderstorm has the potential to produce gusty winds between 40 to 59 mph and/or small hail under 1 inch. Can also be issued for the potential of fair-weather waterspouts moving inland, and can also mention the potential of landspouts.
Tornado Alert: Doppler Radar has indicated a severe thunderstorm with strong rotation capable of producing a tornado, or a confirmed tornado has been reported by the general public, law enforcement, broadcast media, etc. Will be tagged EHS if there is a confirmed large and violent tornado, and confidence it will continue.
Tropical Storm Alert: Tropical-Storm-Force Winds of 40 mph, but not exceeding 74 mph are expected within the next 24 hours in association with a landfalling tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Statement: Tropical-Storm-Force Winds of 40 mph, but not exceeding 74 mph are expected within the next 48 hours in association with a landfalling tropical cyclone.
Wind Alert: Sustained winds between 25 to 39 mph and/or gusts of 35 to 54 mph are expected to last for 2 hours or greater. Issued within 36 hours of event.
Wind Notification: Sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph and gusts of 30-35 mph are expected to last for several hours, or wind alert criteria is met for under 2 hours. This product is typically not issued locally except during summer time when this could have an impact on area lakes.
Wind Statement: Wind Alert criteria may be met within 48 hours.
Wind Chill Alert:
ALL INLAND COUNTIES: Wind Chills of 10 to 20 degrees are expected. Will be tagged EHS for wind chill temperatures of 10 degrees or less.
ALL COASTAL AND FLORIDA COUNTIES: Wind chills of 10 to 25 degrees are expected. Will be tagged EHS for wind chill temperatures 10 degrees or less.
Wind Chill Statement: Wind Chill alert criteria may be met within 48 hours.
Winter Storm Alert: Any combination of snow accumulations, freezing rain accumulations, or sleet accumulations are expected. EHS criteria is met if ice or sleet accumulations over 1/2 inch and/or snow accumulations over 3 inches are expected.
Winter Storm Statement: Any combination of snow, sleet, or freezing rain accumulations are possible within 48 hours exceeding Winter Storm Alert criteria.
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