Why SW+ Alerts?

Well over a decade ago, the National Weather Service began issuing Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm, and Flash Flood Warnings as polygons, alerting only the areas in the path of the storm, rather than entire counties. However, most outdoor warning sirens, NOAA Weather Radios, and many other public alert systems still sound for entire counties! This creates an overwarned and desensitized public, increases the perceived warning false alarm rate, and reduces the effectiveness of the warnings. Smartphone technology, when combined with the coordinates of the NWS warnings, is the BEST and FASTEST option for accurately and promptly warning the public. Enter SW+ Alerts.

Features of SW+ Alerts

  • User-selectable push notifications and audio alerts in the event of:
    • Tornado Watches and Warnings
    • Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings
    • Flash Flood Watches and Warnings
    • A suite of Winter Weather Watches, Warnings, and Advisories
    • A suite of Tropical Watches, Warnings, and Advisories (both coastal and inland)
    • High Wind Warnings
    • Dense Fog Advisories
    • Dust Storm Warnings
  • "Wake-me-up" audio alerting for the most severe storms (Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings)
  • Critical Alerts for iOS devices (StormWatch+ app)
  • Monitor up to 5 user-programmed, fixed locations nationwide, AND...
  • Activate StormWatch+ EnRoute, which uses your device's location services and GPS to actively monitor your location for severe weather as you travel 
  • Access to the full warning text to determine specific threats and timing
  • Map showing your location relative to the warned area
  • Quiet time – to temporarily stop alerts during a specified time of day
  • Status button to disable notifications (i.e., vacation stop)
  • ​Video demonstrations of how to use StormWatch+ can be found using the "Video Demos" link above

 Benefits of SW+ Alerts

  • Reduce confusion associated with:
    • Multiple warnings for your area
    • Sirens and Weather Radios that activate for entire counties
    • Local TV coverage focusing on other storms in your viewing area
  • Eliminate ambiguity over whether YOUR location is warned - personalized service!
  • Increased lead time with immediate personal notification
  • Audio alerts that will get your attention and/or wake you up
  • Reduce perceived false alarms by defining exact areas under a warning, thereby re-establishing credibility in the warning process
  • Activate EnRoute for severe weather alerts while you are traveling, even if you don't know what county or town you are in
Did you know?
At a "Weather-Ready Nation" conference in Oklahoma City, panelists stated that cell phones and geo-targeted alert information are the most important warning dissemination technology available. In addition, a finding of the NWS Service Assessment of the Joplin, MO EF-5 tornado indicated that "many current warning dissemination systems are not fully compatible with specific warning information provided by storm-based, warning polygons." Officials at the highest level are giving credence to the use of geo-targeted alerts and warning systems that can provide very specific information.

The experts believe in the technology - so should you!

GET SW+ ALERTS

Download for iOS
Download for Android

How NWS storm-based
warning polygons work