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At sea, astorm warning is a warning issued by theNational Weather Service of theUnited States when winds between 48 and 63 knots (89 and 117 km/h; 55 and 72 mph) are occurring or predicted to occur soon. The winds must not be associated with a tropical cyclone.[1] If the winds are associated with a tropical cyclone, atropical storm warning will be substituted for the storm warning and less severegale warning.
In US maritime warning flag systems, a red square flag with a black square taking up the middle ninth of the flag is used to indicate a storm warning (the use of two such flags denotes ahurricane force wind warning or ahurricane warning). The same flag as a storm warning is used to indicate a tropical storm warning.
On land, the National Weather Service issues a 'high wind warning' (Specific Area Message Encoding code: HWW) for storm-force winds, which also encompasses the lessergale-force and greaterhurricane force winds. In most cases, the warning applies to winds of 40-114 mph for at least 1 hour; or any gusts of 58–114 miles per hour on land unless a tropical storm warning, blizzard warning, winter storm warning, severe thunderstorm warning, or dust storm warning covers the phenomenon. Winds in excess of 115 mph (100 kn) will always result in new issuance of anextreme wind warning shortly before their onset, typically right before theeyewall of a majorhurricane makes landfall, but possibly as a substitute for asevere thunderstorm warning in an extremederecho event. The only exception is that if the extreme winds are associated with a tornado, atornado warning (or more likely atornado emergency) will be issued instead.
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The following is an recent example of a storm warning issued by the National Weather Service office inJuneau, Alaska.
URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGENational Weather Service Juneau AK240 AM AKST Wed Feb 11 2026PKZ661-662-111945-/O.CON.PAJK.SC.Y.0049.000000T0000Z-260212T0300Z//O.NEW.PAJK.GL.W.0029.260212T0300Z-260212T1200Z//O.NEW.PAJK.SR.W.0006.260212T1200Z-260212T1500Z/Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision from 15 to 90 NM-Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe from 15 to 80 NM-240 AM AKST Wed Feb 11 2026...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THISEVENING......GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 AM AKSTTHURSDAY......STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 AM AKST THURSDAY...* WHAT...For the Small Craft Advisory, south winds 20 to 30 kt and seas 10 to 15 ft. For the Gale Warning, south winds 35 to 45 kt with gusts up to 60 kt and seas 15 to 20 ft expected. For the Storm Warning, south winds 40 to 50 kt with gusts up to 65 kt and seas 23 to 25 ft expected.* WHERE...Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision from 15 to 90 NM and Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe from 15 to 80 NM.* WHEN...For the Small Craft Advisory, until 6 PM AKST this evening. For the Gale Warning, from 6 PM this evening to 3 AM AKST Thursday. For the Storm Warning, from 3 AM to 6 AM AKST Thursday.* IMPACTS...Storm force winds and hazardous seas will capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Mariners should remain in port, alter course, and/or secure thevessel for severe conditions.&&$$