National Weather Service Expanding Emergency Alerts Issued on Mobile Phones

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021 -- 11:01 AM

(Gray News) The National Weather Service is expanding the emergency alerts it issues on mobile phones.

Beginning Aug. 2, the agency will add a “destructive” severe thunderstorm warning category to its alert system, similar to the ones used for tornado and flash flood warnings.

“Severe Thunderstorms deemed ‘destructive’ will activate a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on smartphones,” the weather service said on Twitter. “Criteria for a destructive threat is at least 2.75 inch diameter hail and/or 80 mph thunderstorm winds.”

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