Topic
Weather explainers
Every story from the Ryan Hall, Y'all news desk on Weather explainers, newest first: 4 stories so far, the latest updated November 9, 2026, 12:01 AM ET.
The latest: A Fire Weather Watch means critical fire weather conditions are possible but not imminent or occurring. A Red Flag Warning means there is high confidence that local Red Flag criteria will be met within 48 hours or are already being met. Local offices set the criteria with land managers, combining dry fuels with weather such as strong wind, very low humidity, lightning or dry thunderstorms.
Live data: Every active warning
Stories
- What a Red Flag Warning and a Fire Weather Watch mean
A Fire Weather Watch means critical fire weather conditions are possible but not imminent or occurring. A Red Flag Warning means there is high confidence that local Red Flag criteria will be met within 48 hours or are already being met. Local offices set the criteria with land managers, combining dry fuels with weather such as strong wind, very low humidity, lightning or dry thunderstorms.
- What a Wind Advisory, High Wind Watch and High Wind Warning mean
A Wind Advisory typically covers sustained winds of 30 to 39 mph lasting an hour or longer. A High Wind Watch means a stronger event is possible in the next 12 to 48 hours, and a High Wind Warning means winds are forecast to reach local warning criteria, typically 40 mph sustained for an hour or longer or 58 mph for any duration. Here is what each alert asks you to do.
- Flood Advisory, Watch, Warning and Flash Flood Warning explained
A Flood Advisory means be aware, a Flood Watch means be prepared, and a Flood Warning or Flash Flood Warning means take action. A flash flood is the fast kind, starting within about six hours of its cause, and driving into flood water is how most flood drownings happen.
- What a Freeze Warning means, and how it differs from a Frost Advisory
A Frost Advisory covers lows of 33°F to 36°F on calm, clear nights. A Freeze Watch is the early heads-up, and a Freeze Warning means the low is forecast at 32°F or colder. This explainer covers what a hard freeze is, why these alerts only run in the growing season, and how to protect plants and outdoor pipes.