Explainers
What a Wind Advisory, High Wind Watch and High Wind Warning mean
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk · Published
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
Key points
- Wind Advisory: strong winds are happening or expected, but not strong enough for a warning. Typically sustained 30 to 39 mph for 1 hour or longer.
- High Wind Watch: conditions favor a high wind event in the next 12 to 48 hours. It is a heads-up, not a sure thing.
- High Wind Warning: strong, sustained winds with even stronger gusts are forecast to meet or exceed local criteria. Typically 40 mph or more for 1 hour or longer, or 58 mph or more for any duration.
- Local criteria: all three are issued using thresholds set for your part of the country, so the numbers above are typical, not universal.
A Wind Advisory means steady winds of 30 to 39 mph are expected for an hour or longer. A High Wind Watch means a stronger wind event is possible in the next 12 to 48 hours, and a High Wind Warning means winds are forecast to reach your area's warning level. Typically that is 40 mph or more sustained for an hour, or 58 mph or more for any length of time. These are the National Weather Service's own definitions, and the exact cutoffs are set locally.
Wind Advisory
This is the bottom rung. The typical trigger is sustained winds of 30 to 39 mph lasting an hour or longer, though some areas define it differently. Sustained means the steady wind over a stretch of time, not one quick gust.
An advisory is not a warning, but it is an alert you should act on. The ask is simple: secure objects outdoors and use caution if you are driving.
Some places also use a Lake Wind Advisory, for sustained winds of 20 to 29 mph (or a locally set number) lasting an hour or longer. It is aimed at lakes with a significant number of users. Whether it exists in your area is a local decision.
High Wind Watch
A watch is about timing and chance. It means conditions are favorable for a high wind event that could reach warning criteria in the next 12 to 48 hours. Watches go out when there is a 50 percent or greater chance of meeting local criteria.
That makes a watch your window to get ready. Sustained, strong winds are possible, so secure loose outdoor items and adjust your plans so you are not caught outside.
High Wind Warning
This is the top of the ladder. A warning means the wind is forecast to meet or exceed your area's warning criteria. Typical values are sustained winds of 40 mph or more for an hour or longer, or winds of 58 mph or more for any length of time.
Warnings and advisories are issued when the chance of meeting local criteria is 80 percent or greater. So a warning has a higher probability threshold than a watch.
The ask is to take action. Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening. Seek shelter. If you are driving, keep both hands on the wheel and slow down.
Thunderstorm winds are a separate alert
Wind from a thunderstorm has its own product. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning means a severe thunderstorm is happening or imminent in the warning area, with wind of 58 mph or higher and/or hail 1 inch or larger. If one of those is up for you, that warning is the one to follow.
What to do
Under a Wind Advisory:
- Secure objects outdoors.
- Use caution if you are driving.
Under a High Wind Watch:
- Be prepared. Secure loose outdoor items.
- Adjust your plans so you are not caught outside when the wind arrives.
Under a High Wind Warning:
- Take action. Seek shelter.
- If you must drive, keep both hands on the wheel and slow down.
Any time: the wind alert for your area is the one that counts, because the cutoffs are set locally.
More on Weather explainers
Sources
- NWS Instruction 10-515, "WFO Non-Precipitation Weather Products Specification" (May 16, 2025), Table 1, NOAA National Weather Service, issued
- NWS safety page "Wind Warnings, Watches and Advisories", NOAA National Weather Service
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