National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Seattle, Spokane, Portland, and Pendleton are authorized to activate the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in Washington state. These four NWS offices have short-fuse county warning responsibility for their respective parts of Washington (see attached map). EAS event codes that NWS uses are listed in Tab 17 (EAS Master List).

EAS activation is recommended for short-fuse events (less than six hours to the event) - e.g. - tornado, severe thunderstorm, flash flood. In addition, EAS activation is authorized for flood warnings with unlimited lead time forecast to reach ‘major’ flood category, permitting time for low lying area evacuation. EAS activation is also authorized for ‘high-impact’ major wind storms with minimal coastal forecast wind speeds of 60 mph and/or gusts of 90 mph or more, and inland forecast winds of 50 mph and/or gusts of 75 mph or more, with restrictions on overnight activations.

NWS EAS messages are transmitted in Washington through NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) (see attached list of stations). NWS EAS message authentication is conducted through the EAS origination code.

If a NWS office is unable to activate EAS for a weather event because office communications are down or one or more NWR transmitters are off the air, Washington State Emergency Management serves as the backup and can transmit the EAS message for the NWS.

To report any kind of NOAA Weather Radio transmitter outage trouble, use this web site link to report the problem……http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/outages.html. You can also contact the NWS forecast offices directly via these unlisted media phone numbers.

Seattle – 206-526-6857 |Portland – 503-326-2356 |Spokane 509-244-0537 |Pendleton – 541-276-4493

Watch/Warning Definitions

Outlook - The initial notice of potential hazardous flooding or weather. Issued up to 5 days in advance of a potential event, it is the initial message to help raise the first level of community awareness and preparedness, essentially serving as a "heads up.".

Watch - Conditions are favorable for hazardous weather to occur in a designated geographic area, but not yet certain. For short-fuse severe weather events (e.g. - severe thunderstorm, tornado), a watch can be issued up to 12 hours in advance. For long fuse events (e.g. - flood, high wind), a watch is issued from 12 to 48 hours in advance. "Prepare now!"

A watch is a planning tool, a second higher level of awareness and preparedness, permitting those who need to take preliminary actions to do so in a timely manner. Be alert, monitor NOAA Weather Radio or other weather information sources, and be PREPARED to take immediate action if the watch is changed to a warning.

Warning - Hazardous flood or significant weather is occurring or imminent within the next 12 hours in the designated geographic area(s). TAKE ACTION NOW to protect life and property!