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Start with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) public advisory for the storm, then use NOAA’s live tracker for the map and your local National Weather Service office and emergency-management agency for decisions about surge, wind, rain, flooding and evacuation. On your phone, leave Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) enabled and add local and FEMA alerts as redundant channels. The forecast cone shows only where the storm’s center is likely to travel—not every place that can be hit—so never use its edge as a safety boundary.
Use the official forecast first
The National Hurricane Center is NOAA’s official source for tropical-cyclone forecasts in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and eastern and central Pacific. Open the NHC page for the active storm and read the latest public advisory, forecast track, watches and warnings, key messages, and links to local emergency-management offices. Forecasts change as new aircraft, satellite and model data arrive, so check the latest advisory rather than relying on a screenshot, an old map or an unverified social-media post.
NOAA’s Live Hurricane Tracker is useful for interactive satellite imagery and current or previous storm paths. Use it to understand the storm’s recent movement and organization, but follow the storm-specific NHC advisory and key messages for the current forecast and official instructions.
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- NOAA Weather Scan & Alert - This emergency weather alert radio features S.A.M.E localized programming and alert you to over 60 kinds of weather hazards and emergencies. NOAA Weather Scan will automatically alert you of events.
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- Notification Settings - Program your radio to receive weather alerts from up to 25 different counties and be alerted only when those specific counties are threatened. Color-coded alert indicators show the alert type and its severity.
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How to track a storm on your phone
- Open the NHC storm page. Find the active storm’s public advisory and note the issue time. Read the key messages before studying the graphic; they identify the hazards forecasters consider most urgent.
- Check the forecast track and watches or warnings. Look for the current position, forecast positions, expected intensity and the areas covered by each product. A track map is not a complete impact map.
- Open NOAA’s live tracker when you need context. Use satellite layers and past positions to see motion and structure. Return to the NHC advisory for the authoritative forecast.
- Switch to your local NWS office. Read its forecast discussion, tropical-weather statements and hazard-specific products. Local offices translate the storm forecast into effects for your counties and waters.
- Check local emergency management. Confirm evacuation-zone status, transportation arrangements, shelters, curfews, utility information and instructions for people with medical or accessibility needs.
- Recheck on every new advisory. Save the official pages in your browser, but do not assume a saved screenshot remains current. Keep phone location services and date/time visible when sharing information so others can tell whether it is current.
What the hurricane cone actually means
NOAA’s definition is precise: “The National Hurricane Center Forecast Cone shows the probable forecast track of the center of the storm.” The cone is built around the historical error of predicted center positions at each forecast time. It is a probability display for the center, not an outline of the hurricane’s clouds, winds, rain or surge.
NOAA says the storm and its impacts can extend far outside the cone, including well inland. The center has remained inside the cone roughly two-thirds of the time historically, according to NOAA/NWS 2026 guidance. That statistic describes track forecasts; it does not mean two-thirds of the damage stays inside the shaded area, and it does not make the cone edge a safe boundary.
Read hazard-specific products separately
- Wind: Use the wind-speed probabilities and tropical-storm-force or hurricane-force wind graphics. Large storms can bring damaging wind far from the center.
- Storm surge: Read the storm-surge watch or warning and local inundation maps. Surge depends on the wind field, coastline shape, tide, waves and the storm’s angle of approach, not just the center line.
- Rain and flooding: Check NWS rainfall forecasts, flash-flood warnings and river information. Heavy rain can occur hundreds of miles from the center and after the eye has passed.
- Tornadoes and severe storms: Inland rainbands can produce tornado warnings. Treat those alerts independently of the hurricane cone.
- Evacuation zones: Follow local zone maps and orders. A zone designation is a local emergency-planning tool, not a substitute for the NHC track.
NOAA announced on March 24, 2026, that NHC would introduce new operational forecast-cone graphics and Hawaii storm-surge alerts for the 2026 hurricane season. Controls and visual labels can change, so use the live NHC page and identify controls by their function rather than relying on an old tutorial screenshot.
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Turn on official emergency alerts
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
WEA messages are broadcast by participating wireless carriers to capable phones in the threatened area. They require no app subscription and can arrive even when you have not signed up for a local text list. Qualifying NWS products include hurricane warnings, storm-surge warnings, typhoon warnings and extreme-wind warnings. WEA is location-based and designed for urgent action; it does not deliver every forecast update or every local advisory.
Keep government and emergency alerts enabled in your phone’s notification settings. Do not silence them during a storm unless you understand that doing so can suppress a warning intended for your current area. A phone must be powered on and able to receive the carrier broadcast; a dead battery, incompatible device or lack of carrier service can prevent delivery.
iPhone settings
- Open Settings.
- Tap Notifications.
- Scroll to Government Alerts.
- Leave emergency and public-safety alert categories enabled. Some operating-system versions show additional test-alert controls; labels can differ, so verify the wording on your current device.
Android settings
Android menus vary by manufacturer and version. Look in one of these areas: Settings → Notifications, Settings → Safety and emergency, or Settings → Wireless Emergency Alerts. Turn on government, severe, extreme and public-safety categories that your device offers. Use the Settings search field for “emergency alerts” if the menu is not where expected, and confirm the path on the specific phone before hurricane season.
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Add a second and third alert channel
FEMA app
The official FEMA Android listing says the FEMA app can provide NWS and IPAWS alerts for up to five selected locations, using ZIP-code precision. Add your home, workplace, school, a family member’s location or another place you may shelter. Treat the app as a location-based supplement to WEA, not a replacement for local instructions or a guarantee that every warning will appear immediately.
Local emergency-management messages
Sign up for county, city, tribal or state emergency-management text and email systems where available. These systems can carry evacuation orders, shelter capacity, bridge or road closures, boil-water notices, curfews and re-entry rules that national services do not provide. NHC links to state emergency-management offices; use the official local site rather than a community repost.
NOAA Weather Radio
NOAA/NWS lists NOAA Weather Radio among trusted sources for more information. A battery-powered or hand-crank receiver is the most direct physical backup when cellular service, internet access or a phone battery is unreliable. Choose a unit with the NOAA/NWR band, a loud alarm, battery backup and hand-crank or USB charging. SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) or other location alerting is useful when you want alarms for selected counties; verify the exact features of the model you buy.
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A power bank can keep a phone running, but it does not replace an independent broadcast receiver. Charge the phone and power bank before conditions deteriorate, keep charging cables together, and conserve battery by lowering screen brightness and disabling unnecessary background activity.
Watch versus warning: know when to act
| Product | Official meaning | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane watch | Hurricane conditions are possible somewhere within the watch area, generally with tropical-storm-force winds beginning within 48 hours. | Finish preparations, review evacuation routes, secure outdoor items, charge devices and monitor updates. Do not wait to locate medications, transport or shelter options. |
| Hurricane warning | Hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, generally with tropical-storm-force winds beginning within 36 hours. | Take immediate protective action and comply with evacuation orders. Move before roads become hazardous or officials close routes. |
| Storm-surge warning | Life-threatening inundation from rising water is expected in the specified area, subject to the product’s current wording and map. | Leave or move to the instructed safe location by the local deadline; do not drive through floodwater. |
| Extreme-wind warning | Extreme hurricane winds are expected, usually for a much smaller area and shorter lead time than a hurricane warning. | Get inside a sturdy building, away from windows, and remain sheltered until officials say the danger has passed. |
| Flash-flood warning | Rapid, dangerous flooding is occurring or imminent in the warned area. | Move to higher ground immediately and obey “turn around, don’t drown” guidance. |
Products can overlap. For example, you might receive a hurricane warning from WEA, a county evacuation order by text and a flash-flood warning from NWS. Read each message and follow the most protective instruction that applies to your location.
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| Channel | Authority and information | Geographic specificity | Connectivity and battery | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHC website and public advisory | Official tropical-cyclone forecast, track, intensity, watches, warnings and key messages. | Storm-wide; pair with local products for neighborhood decisions. | Requires internet and a charged device. | Primary source for the forecast and explanation of uncertainty. |
| NOAA Live Hurricane Tracker | Interactive satellite imagery and current or previous storm paths. | Storm-wide visual context. | Requires internet and a charged device. | Understanding recent movement and structure; not a substitute for advisories. |
| WEA | Urgent qualifying government warnings, including hurricane, surge and extreme-wind warnings. | Phones in the threatened broadcast area. | Uses participating carrier broadcasts; no subscription, but requires a capable, powered phone. | Immediate action alerts when you are in or enter a warning area. |
| FEMA app | NWS and IPAWS alerts for up to five selected ZIP-code locations. | Selected locations with ZIP-code precision. | Requires app installation, data access and phone power. | Redundant location-based notifications. |
| Local emergency-management alerts | Evacuations, shelters, closures, local hazards and recovery instructions. | County, city, tribal or state jurisdiction. | Usually requires registration and cellular or internet access. | Decisions that depend on your exact community. |
| NOAA Weather Radio | Continuous NOAA/NWS broadcasts and alert tones. | Broadcast coverage, with SAME location filtering where supported. | Works without internet or cellular service; needs batteries or another power source. | Backup warnings during outages and overnight. |
Prepare your phone before the storm
- Install pending operating-system and carrier updates while you still have reliable power and connectivity.
- Test that emergency-alert categories are enabled; do not assume a new phone inherited settings from an old one.
- Install the FEMA app if you want its five-location option and add locations before the storm is nearby.
- Register for official local text or email alerts and save the emergency-management number in your contacts.
- Bookmark the NHC, local NWS and local emergency-management pages in your browser. Download any officially offered maps or guidance for offline reference, but check their issue dates.
- Charge the phone, power bank and NOAA Weather Radio. Keep a charging cable and vehicle charger in the same emergency kit.
- Enable location services if a service requires them, and make sure your address or ZIP code is current in alert apps.
- Tell household members which channel is primary and which is backup. Include a plan for relatives who have hearing, vision, mobility, language or power-related needs.
When alerts or maps appear wrong
The cone moved away, but my area is still warned
That is possible because warnings cover hazards, not just the center line. Use wind, surge, rain and flooding products plus local evacuation instructions. Do not cancel preparations solely because the center forecast shifted.
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- PORTABLE RADIO & HEADPHONE JACK - This portable radio is small, light, and IPX3 water-resistant, only 1.2LB, measures: 6.8×3.7×2.9 inches, which is easier to carry with you anywhere. Includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack, allowing you to listen to the weather broadcast at night without disturbing your travel buddies. Weather alerts are beneficial during outdoor adventures like fishing, camping, and hiking, can keep you well-prepared for severe weather and stay safe.
I received no WEA message
Check that government alerts are enabled, the phone is compatible and powered, and the carrier participates in WEA. Coverage gaps, a phone in airplane mode, an exhausted battery or being outside the broadcast area can prevent delivery. Rely on the NHC, NWS, local alerts and NOAA Weather Radio as additional channels.
The app and local officials disagree
Confirm that both messages are current and identify the issuing authority and hazard. Local emergency management controls evacuation decisions for its jurisdiction. Follow the local order while using NHC and NWS products to understand the broader storm.
The internet or cellular network fails
Switch to NOAA Weather Radio, battery-powered television or radio, and instructions from officials already on scene. Preserve phone battery, use text messages when calls do not connect, and avoid repeatedly refreshing pages when power is limited.
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Check its timestamp and source. Use the current NHC advisory and NOAA products as the reference; unofficial maps may combine old forecast cycles, model output or a different definition of the storm center.
A simple decision routine during an active storm
- Identify your location and hazards. Know your county, evacuation zone, elevation and proximity to coast, rivers and low-water crossings.
- Read the newest NHC key messages. Note the issue time, forecast changes and hazards emphasized by forecasters.
- Read local NWS products. Check surge, wind, rainfall, flooding and tornado information separately.
- Check emergency-management instructions. Follow evacuation zones, deadlines, shelter directions and road restrictions.
- Act on warnings, not just the center track. A warning for your hazard requires action even if the cone does not pass directly over you.
- Keep monitoring after landfall. Inland flooding, tornadoes, power hazards and blocked roads can become the main danger after the center moves away.
Bottom line for safe hurricane tracking
Use NHC for the authoritative storm forecast, NOAA’s live tracker for visual context, and your local NWS office and emergency-management agency for impacts and orders. Keep WEA enabled, add FEMA or local alerts for redundancy, and maintain a battery or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio. The cone represents the probable path of the center; it is not a map of every place that can experience life-threatening wind, surge, rain or flooding.
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