Weather Alert Times: Issued, Onset, Expires and Event End
Read the different clocks in an NWS alert without mistaking an expired message for an all-clear. Includes a fictional timeline and a sharing checklist.
STORMSCAPES / EXPLAINERS
Make sense of hazard reports.
A warning, a magnitude and a forecast track answer different questions. Learn what each tells you before you share a headline or make a decision.
Understand the reports
All explainers →Earthquake Event Time vs. Update Time: Is It a New Quake?
Separate an earthquake’s origin time from a revised report and a refreshed feed. Use event identifiers and a fictional comparison to avoid duplicate earthquake headlines.
Hurricane Advisory Times: Regular, Intermediate and Special Updates
Learn when to check NHC advisories, how special updates differ, and why a forecast valid time is not its publication time. Includes a fictional reading worksheet.
How to Read a River Hydrograph: Observed vs. Forecast Water Levels
Read river stage, observation times and forecast crests without mistaking a gauge reading for water depth at your home. Includes a fictional worked example.
USGS PAGER Explained: Earthquake Loss Estimates Are Not Confirmed Counts
Understand PAGER earthquake alert colors, estimated losses and uncertainty. Use a reporting checklist to avoid presenting modeled impacts as confirmed casualties.
Volcano Alert Levels vs. Aviation Colors: Why WATCH and ORANGE Differ
Understand the USGS volcano alert terms and aviation color codes, including why WARNING/ORANGE can be valid. Includes a paired-code reading checklist.
Flood Watch vs. Warning: What Each Alert Means
Understand flood watches, flood warnings and flash flood warnings, then find the issuing agency and instructions for your location.
Earthquake Magnitude vs. Intensity: The Difference Explained
Magnitude measures earthquake size; intensity describes shaking at a location. Compare the two with a simple example and USGS guidance.
Hurricane Forecast Cone Explained: What It Shows and Misses
Learn what the hurricane forecast cone means, why hazards extend beyond it, and which official forecasts to check for your community.