Weather Describing Winds Storms People Warnings Warn Residents

When an area is going to "experience" (have) "severe" (very strong and dangerous) weather conditions, the "local residents" (people who live in a particular area) need to be "warned" (told that there might be a problem or danger). Americans receive weather warnings in many different ways.

Newspapers report on the weather every day, so they might warn residents about the "potential for" (possibility of) severe weather conditions. As the "severity" (seriousness) of the "approaching" (coming nearer) storm increases, radio stations might also start to "issue" (give) warnings. Television stations might put a line of text at the bottom of the "screen" (the part of the television that produces images) warning residents, or they might begin to "cover" (make a news story out of) the storm.

The National Weather Service is part of a U.S. government agency called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It has maps with weather "advisories" (warnings). Individuals can find the information online, and news programs often use those maps and warnings in their own reports.

If the weather is expected to be very severe, "as in the case of" (for example) a hurricane or tornado, the local "authorities" (people and organizations with power, such as the police) may decide to "evacuate" (make people leave a place) the local residents. Although they cannot force people to leave their homes, they will strongly recommend that they leave. They might drive large trucks through the city, using a "megaphone" (an electronic device that is held in front of one's mouth to make one's voice very loud) to warn the residents about the approaching danger and the need to evacuate.