Live from the National Weather Service

Storm Center

Active National Weather Service alerts that matter to a roof — hail, wind, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, tropical systems and winter storms — with the counties each one names and the office that issued it. Everything below is reproduced as the Weather Service wrote it.

Further down, in its own lane, the smoke and fire family: fire weather, dense smoke, air quality, blowing dust and volcanic ashfall. Two lists off one feed, kept apart on purpose.

5 active alerts · read from the National Weather Service at Sep 16, 10:58 PM EDT · refreshed every 10 minutes

This page is informational and is not a safety resource. It exists to show roofing professionals where storm damage has been reported, and it is refreshed on a ten-minute cycle, so it can lag the Weather Service.

During an active weather event, the authority is weather.gov and your local emergency management agency. Follow them, not this page.

National radar

The National Weather Service's own radar mosaic for the lower 48, served straight from radar.weather.gov and regenerated by NOAA roughly every two minutes.

National Weather Service radar for the continental United States, covering the lower 48 states. — Where precipitation is falling across the continental United States right now. Radar shows precipitation, not damage — a return over a county is not evidence that any particular building was hit.
Radar imagery: the National Weather Service. Served directly from radar.weather.gov, a free US Government service, and regenerated by NOAA roughly every two minutes — your browser picks up new frames on its own. This site does not process, re-colour or re-time the imagery; it is the Weather Service’s own mosaic, unmodified. weather.gov
This radar is informational and is not a safety resource. During an active weather event, the authority is weather.gov and your local emergency management agency. Follow them, not this page.

Forecast wind gusts

The National Weather Service's own gust forecast for the lower 48, from the National Digital Forecast Database.

National Weather Service forecast wind gust map for the continental United States, in miles per hour, from the National Digital Forecast Database. A color-coded map with a speed legend across the top; the forecast valid time and the issue time are printed along the bottom edge of the image. — Gusts are the wind field that matters to a roof. Uplift on a roof assembly is driven by the peak gust rather than the sustained speed underneath it — a short-lived gust is what gets under a shingle tab, a panel edge or a piece of flashing and starts the progressive failure, and the sustained reading over the same period can be a great deal lower. The Weather Service publishes both fields; this page shows the gust one for that reason and does not show the other.
This is a forecast valid at the time printed on the image, not an observation and not a report of damage. What is actually in force is the alert list on this page.
Forecast imagery: the National Weather Service. Served directly from graphical.weather.gov, a free US Government service, and regenerated by NOAA on its own schedule — the forecast valid time and the issue time are printed on the image itself. This site does not process, re-colour or re-time the imagery; it is the Weather Service’s own National Digital Forecast Database graphic, unmodified. weather.gov
This forecast graphic is informational and is not a safety resource. During an active weather event, the authority is weather.gov and your local emergency management agency. Follow them, not this page.

Priority markets

North Carolina, Kansas, Georgia and Illinois — the four states this directory watches most closely.

North CarolinaNo active alerts · peak season march–may and august–october KansasNo active alerts · peak season april–june GeorgiaNo active alerts · peak season march–may, plus august–october for tropical systems IllinoisNo active alerts · peak season april–july

Everywhere else

Every other state carrying an active roof-relevant alert right now, busiest first.

Alaska

3 active alerts

Wind Advisory

ModerateUrgencyExpectedCertaintyLikely

Issued by NWS Fairbanks AK

In effect from Sep 16, 1:15 PM local · until Sep 17, 4:00 AM local

Counties named in this alert

Upper Chena River Valley
Tanana Flats
Eielson AFB and Salcha
Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills
Chatanika River Valley
Two Rivers
Fairbanks Metro Area
Nenana

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Wind Advisory issued September 16 at 1:15PM AKDT until September 17 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

NWS description

* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of the Central Interior including Fairbanks. * WHEN...Until 4 AM AKDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

NWS instructions

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

View this alert on weather.gov

Wind Advisory

ModerateUrgencyExpectedCertaintyLikely

Issued by NWS Fairbanks AK

In effect from Sep 16, 1:15 PM local · until Sep 17, 4:00 AM local

Counties named in this alert

White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Wind Advisory issued September 16 at 1:15PM AKDT until September 17 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

NWS description

* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River. * WHEN...Until 4 AM AKDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

NWS instructions

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

View this alert on weather.gov

Wind Advisory

ModerateUrgencyExpectedCertaintyLikely

Issued by NWS Juneau AK

In effect from Sep 16, 6:39 PM local · until Sep 16, 7:00 PM local

Counties named in this alert

Municipality of Skagway

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Wind Advisory issued September 16 at 6:39PM AKDT until September 16 at 7:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK

NWS description

Gusts up to 35 mph are still possible through the rest of the evening.

View this alert on weather.gov

Kentucky

1 active alert

Special Weather Statement

ModerateUrgencyExpectedCertaintyObserved

Issued by NWS Jackson KY

In effect from Sep 16, 3:15 PM local · until Sep 17, 12:00 AM local

Counties named in this alert

Fleming
Montgomery
Bath
Rowan
Estill
Powell
Menifee
Rockcastle
Jackson
Pulaski
Laurel
Wayne
McCreary
Whitley
Knox
Bell
Harlan
Elliott
Morgan
Johnson
Wolfe
Magoffin
Floyd
Lee
Breathitt
Knott
Owsley
Perry
Clay
Leslie
Letcher
Martin
Pike

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Special Weather Statement issued September 16 at 3:15PM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

NWS description

Plenty of sunshine and a dome of heat will send temperatures into the low to mid 90s for highs across most of the area today and Thursday. When combined with higher than normal humidities, this will result in heat indices from 95 to 100 degrees for much of eastern Kentucky both afternoons. There are only scant chances for showers or storms to provide limited and localized relief through Thursday. Try to limit time outdoors during the afternoon period, when heat illness is most likely to occur. If going outdoors, drink plenty of fluids and take breaks out of the sun.

View this alert on weather.gov

New Mexico

1 active alert

Special Weather Statement

ModerateUrgencyExpectedCertaintyObserved

Issued by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

In effect from Sep 16, 8:46 PM local · until Sep 16, 9:15 PM local

Max hail size0.00Max wind gust50 MPH

Counties named in this alert

Sierra County Lakes
Northern Dona Ana County
West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Special Weather Statement issued September 16 at 8:46PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

NWS description

At 845 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles northeast of Rincon, moving north at 35 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Hatch, Upham, Arrey, Rincon, White Sands National Park, Derry, Salem, Garfield, Spaceport America, Portions of Jornada Experimental Range, and Lake Lucero. This includes Interstate 25 in New Mexico between mile markers 27 and 57.

NWS instructions

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

View this alert on weather.gov

Predominant weather forecast

The National Weather Service's forecast of the dominant weather type across the lower 48, from the National Digital Forecast Database.

Smoke & fire lane

Smoke & fire alerts nationwide

Wildfire smoke, structure fires and blowing dust are what generate smoke-damage losses, and the National Weather Service issues a separate family of alerts for them. This lane reports that family — kept apart from the storm alerts above, because a contractor scanning for hail and somebody working a smoke loss are looking for opposite things in the same feed.

Alerts describing particulate already in the air are listed ahead of fire-weather forecasts, which is this lane’s own ordering and is stated here so it is not mistaken for a Weather Service ranking. Every card prints its event name and the Weather Service’s own severity grade exactly as issued, wherever it sits in the list.

8 active smoke or fire alerts · read from the National Weather Service at Sep 16, 10:58 PM EDT · refreshed every 10 minutes

Nevada

2 active alerts

Red Flag Warning

Fire weatherSevereUrgencyExpectedCertaintyLikely

Issued by NWS Elko NV

In effect from Sep 16, 1:36 PM local · until Sep 16, 8:00 PM local

Counties named in this alert

Northern Nye County - Mojave
Central Nevada - Toiyabe

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Red Flag Warning issued September 16 at 1:36PM PDT until September 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Elko NV

NWS description

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR FWZ 426 & 427 WEDNESDAY... * AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 426 and 427. * WIND...Sustained southerly winds of 20-25 mph with gusts of 30-35 mph. * HUMIDITY...Afternoon values of 10-15% possible * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

NWS instructions

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

View this alert on weather.gov

Red Flag Warning

Fire weatherSevereUrgencyExpectedCertaintyLikely

Issued by NWS Elko NV

In effect from Sep 17, 11:00 AM local · until Sep 17, 8:00 PM local

Counties named in this alert

Northern Nye County - Mojave
Central Nevada - Toiyabe

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Red Flag Warning issued September 16 at 1:36PM PDT until September 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Elko NV

NWS description

NWS instructions

View this alert on weather.gov

California

1 active alert

Air Quality Alert

Air qualityUnknownUrgencyUnknownCertaintyUnknown

Issued by NWS Phoenix AZ

In effect from Sep 15, 5:02 PM local · until Sep 17, 12:00 AM local

Counties named in this alert

Imperial County Southwest
Imperial County West
Imperial Valley

Counties named in this alert

Crittenden
DeSoto
Shelby

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Air Quality Alert issued September 16 at 3:29PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN

NWS description

View this alert on weather.gov

Tennessee

1 active alert

Air Quality Alert

Air qualityUnknownUrgencyUnknownCertaintyUnknown

Issued by NWS Memphis TN

In effect from Sep 16, 3:29 PM local · until Sep 17, 5:30 PM local

Counties named in this alert

Crittenden
DeSoto
Shelby

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Air Quality Alert issued September 16 at 3:29PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN

NWS description

View this alert on weather.gov

Idaho

1 active alert

Fire Weather Watch

Fire weatherSevereUrgencyFutureCertaintyPossible

Issued by NWS Boise ID

In effect from Sep 17, 12:00 PM local · until Sep 17, 9:00 PM local

Counties named in this alert

Northern Boise National Forest
Southern Boise/Western Sawtooth NF, including the Camas Prairie
Burns BLM
Steens Mountain
Northwestern Vale BLM
Baker Valley

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Fire Weather Watch issued September 16 at 10:40AM MDT until September 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Boise ID

NWS description

The National Weather Service in Boise has issued a Fire Weather Watch for lightning, which is in effect from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...In Idaho, Fire Weather Zones 403 Northern Boise National Forest, 421 Southern Boise/Western Sawtooth NF and including the Camas Prairie. In Oregon, Fire Weather Zones 670 Burns BLM, 671 Steens Mountain, 674 Northwestern Vale BLM and 675 Baker Valley. * TIMING...From Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening. * THUNDERSTORMS...Scattered coverage with abundant lightning. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusty erratic winds up to 50 mph. * IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

NWS instructions

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

View this alert on weather.gov

Oregon

1 active alert

Fire Weather Watch

Fire weatherSevereUrgencyFutureCertaintyPossible

Issued by NWS Boise ID

In effect from Sep 17, 12:00 PM local · until Sep 17, 9:00 PM local

Counties named in this alert

Northern Boise National Forest
Southern Boise/Western Sawtooth NF, including the Camas Prairie
Burns BLM
Steens Mountain
Northwestern Vale BLM
Baker Valley

Read the full National Weather Service text

NWS headline

Fire Weather Watch issued September 16 at 10:40AM MDT until September 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Boise ID

NWS description

NWS instructions

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

View this alert on weather.gov

The 12 alert types this lane reports

Every one is a National Weather Service product and is listed under the name the Weather Service gives it. Grouping them into families is ours; the names are not.

Fire weather: Fire WarningExtreme Fire DangerRed Flag WarningFire Weather Watch
Dense smoke: Dense Smoke Advisory
Air quality: Air Quality Alert
Blowing dust: Blowing Dust WarningDust Storm WarningBlowing Dust AdvisoryDust Advisory
Volcanic ashfall: Ashfall WarningAshfall Advisory

The Weather Service defines each of these products and this site does not attempt to. What any one of them means, and the criteria an office issues it under, are at weather.gov.

This lane is informational and is not a safety resource. It reports which National Weather Service smoke and fire alerts are active and where, on a ten-minute refresh cycle, so it can lag the Weather Service.

During an active weather event, the authority is weather.gov and your local emergency management agency. Follow them, not this page.

Smoke exposure and air quality are health matters, and this page does not address them. It does not tell you whether it is safe to be outdoors or to work, what an air quality index number means for you or for anyone in your household, or what respiratory protection to use. Those questions belong with a clinician and with the agency that issued the alert. The federal air-quality authority is airnow.gov.

What smoke does to a roof assembly

An active alert is a record of conditions, not a finding about any building. These are the standing references on the building-assembly side of a smoke or fire loss.

Smoke odor in roof decking and attic insulationWhy odor outlives the visible repairs — deposition into bare decking and framing, insulation acting as a reservoir, and the difference between cleaning, sealing and removing. The article that covers wildfire smoke reaching an attic through the vents, with the roof itself untouched.Fire damage to a roof assemblyDirect flame against radiant heat, shingle distortion and mat delamination, charred sheathing and loss of section, and why a roof that looks intact from the ground can still be condemned.Roof replacement after a fireHow the repair-or-replace decision is built on a fire loss: partial against full deck replacement, the boundary between charred and heat-affected wood, matching, and the code upgrades a repair can trigger.Ventilation holes and fire department roof damageFire crews cut the roof on purpose. What vertical ventilation is for, how tactical damage is separated from fire damage in a scope, and what an opened deck needs in the meantime.Smoke Mitigation Network — directory listingLaboratory smoke damage testing and documentation, listed under Restoration & Mitigation → Smoke Damage Testing & Assessment. Whether a building is contaminated is established by sampling rather than by looking at it. The listing discloses that it shares ownership with this directory.

Storm center by state

Active alerts plus the severe-weather season, the damage mechanisms and the licensing and contractor pages for each state.

Source: the National Weather Service. Every alert on this page comes from the NWS public alerts feed at api.weather.gov, a free US Government service, and is reproduced as the issuing office wrote it. The office that issued each alert is named on the alert itself.

This site does not edit, summarise or re-grade Weather Service text. Alerts are filtered into two separate lists — the event types that affect roofs, and the smoke, fire and airborne-particulate family — and each list is sorted. Nothing else is changed, and no alert is moved between the two lists to suit a heading.

weather.gov