Personalized weather alerts in the palm of your hand!
SW+ Alerts is a personalized service that sends alerts to smartphone users whenever severe
weather threatens their specific location. Combining storm-based warnings issued by the
National Weather Service (referred to as polygons) and a user's precise location, alerts are sent
only if the user's registered location(s) is directly threatened.
Click the appropriate icon below to purchase MWN, then upgrade to add SW+ Alerts
Why SW+ Alerts?
In 2007, the National Weather Service began issuing Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm, and Flash
Flood Warnings as polygons (see images to the right), alerting only the areas in the path of the storm,
rather than entire counties. However, for various reasons, and in almost all cases, outdoor warning
sirens still sound over the entire county even if the storm is affecting only a small portion of that
county. This can create an overwarned public and increases the perceived warning false alarm rate,
thereby reducing the siren's effectiveness and, consequently, the public's response. In addition, NOAA
Weather Radios also alert on a COUNTY basis and are therefore not as precise as the warnings they
are alerting on.
At a "Weather-Ready Nation" conference in Oklahoma City, panelists stated that cell phones and
geotargeted alert information are the most important warning dissemination technology available.
In addition, a finding of the NWS Service Assessment of the Joplin, MO Tornado indicated that
"many current warning dissemination systems are not fully compatible with specific warning information
provided by storm-based, warning polygons." Officials at the highest level are giving credence
to the use of geo-targeted alerts and warning systems that can provide very specific information.
What is SW+ Alerts?
SW+ Alerts keeps you from becoming "siren-weary" and "overwarned" by only alerting you if you
are directly in the path of the storm. If sirens or your NOAA Weather Radio sound an alarm, but
a SW+ Alert is not received, you are NOT in the NWS-warned area. For less than the cost of a
meal at your local fast casual restaurant, you can have peace of mind in the path of the storm!
Features:
Push notifications and audio alerts in the event of any of the following:
Tornado Watches and Warnings
Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings
Flash Flood Watches and Warnings
Winter Weather Watches, Warnings, and Advisories
Tropical Watches, Warnings, and Advisories
Users may select alert types they wish to receive
Notifications sent even if app is not running and device is not in use
Push notification accompanied by audio alerts that will wake you up (Tornado & Severe Thunderstorm Warnings)
Auto-updating list of active alerts, which "roll off" when expired or canceled
Register up to three locations anywhere in the United States,
which can be changed at any time and can be set using:
Current GPS location
City, ST
Postal address
Zip code
Activate EnRoute, which uses your device's location services and/or GPS to actively monitor your location for severe weather
Access to full warning text of the alert
Map showing warning area and your location
Quiet time, to temporarily stop alerts during a specified time of day
Status button to disable notifications (i.e., vacation stop)
Regional map showing all active Mid-South alerts
Free re-install if the app is deleted
Multiple device installations if under the same iTunes/Play Store account
Benefits:
Reduce confusion associated with:
Multiple warnings for your area
Sirens that activate for entire counties
NOAA Weather Radio that alerts county-wide
Eliminate ambiguity over whether YOUR location is warned - personalized service!
Increased lead time with immediate personal notification
Audio alerts that will get your attention or wake you up
Reduce perceived false alarms by defining exact areas under a warning,
thereby re-establishing credibility in the warning process
Activate EnRoute for severe weather alerts while you are traveling, even if you don't know what county or town you are in
Hear MWN meterologist Erik describe the SW+ Alerts service:
Delivery of weather alerts by e-mail, Twitter, or push notification
is not guarantee and is subject to many variables. Never base important decisions on this or any weather information obtained
from the Internet. All users of these services must agree to abide by the Terms
and Conditions of Use.