Special marine warning

Weather warning in the United States

A special marine warning (SAME code SMW) is a warning issued by the U.S. National Weather Service for potentially hazardous marine weather conditions usually of short duration (up to 2 hours) producing sustained marine thunderstorm winds or associated gusts of 34 knots or greater; or hail 3/4 inch or more in diameter; or waterspouts affecting areas included in a coastal waters forecast, a nearshore marine forecast, or a Great Lakes open lakes forecast that is not adequately covered by existing marine warnings. It is also used for short duration mesoscale events such as a strong cold front, gravity wave, squall line, etc., lasting less than 2 hours and producing winds or gusts of 34 knots or greater.^[1]

References

^ "Special Marine Warning Definition". NWS. Retrieved 28 September 2013.

Severe weather terminology in the United States

Severe
storms

Thunderstorm	Advisory Watch PDS watch Warning
Tornado	Watch PDS watch Warning PDS warning Emergency
Marine thunderstorm	Special marine warning

Winter
weather

Advisories	Winter weather advisory
Winter storm	Watch Warning
Blizzard/blowing snow	Blowing snow advisory Blizzard watch Blizzard warning
Heavy snow	Warning
Lake-effect snow	Advisory Watch Warning
Snow squall	Warning
Ice	Freezing rain advisory Ice storm warning Ice storm watch
Avalanche	Warning Watch Advisory

Tropical
cyclones

Tropical storms	Watch Warning
Hurricanes	Watch Warning
Typhoons	Watch Warning
Cyclones	Watch Warning
Storm surge	Watch Warning

Hurricane local statement
Tropical storm local statement
Tropical depression local statement

Flood

Flood	Watch Warning Advisory
Flash flood	Watch PDS watch Warning Emergency
Coastal flood	Advisory Watch Warning Statement
Lakeshore flood	Warning Advisory Watch Statement
River flood	Advisory Watch Warning
Urban and small stream flood	Advisory

Apparent
temperature

Heat index	Heat advisory Excessive heat watch Excessive heat warning
Wind chill	Advisory Watch Warning PDS warning
Extreme cold	Warning
Freeze	Watch Warning Hard freeze warning Frost advisory Hard freeze watch

Maritime
and
coastal
weather

Marine winds	Small craft advisory Brisk wind advisory Lake wind advisory
Gale	Watch Warning
Storm	Watch Warning
Hurricane-force wind	Warning Watch
Hazardous seas	Watch Warning
Freezing spray	Freezing spray advisory Heavy freezing spray watch Heavy freezing spray warning

High surf

High surf advisory

High surf warning

High surf watch

Wind

Advisory-force winds	Wind advisory
Gale-force winds	High wind watch High wind warning
Major hurricane-force winds	Extreme wind warning

Airborne
particulates

Dust/sand	Blowing dust advisory Blowing dust warning Dust advisory Dust storm warning
Fog/Smoke	Dense fog advisory Dense smoke advisory
Ash	Ashfall advisory Ashfall warning
Air pollution	Air stagnation advisory Air quality alert