Automatic severe weather warnings
Tornado, severe storm and flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service go up on your screens by themselves (US only).
SignBlink can watch the US National Weather Service for you. When it issues a dangerous warning for your area — a tornado, severe thunderstorm, flash flood or blizzard, for example — the warning goes up on your screens by itself, with what people should do. It comes down when the weather service lifts it.
Turn it on
- Go to Emergency alerts and find Weather warnings.
- Choose Turn on for a place and search for your town or address.
- Choose the screens: All screens, or some screens or groups.
- Choose Warnings (dangerous weather happening now or about to), or Warnings and watches (also when conditions are right for it).
- Leave Alert tone on if screens should sound a tone, then choose Turn on.
Have screens in more than one town? Add each place, with the screens there.
What happens in a warning
- SignBlink checks every two minutes. A new warning goes on the chosen screens within a couple of minutes of the weather service issuing it.
- Tornado, extreme wind, tsunami and civil emergencies use the red Emergency look; other warnings are amber.
- The message is the weather service's own advice, like "Take cover now! Move to a basement or an interior room…", shortened to read from across a room.
- When the warning is extended or changed, the alert updates. When it's lifted or expires, the alert comes down and screens go back to their playlists.
- You can end it yourself at any time from Emergency alerts; it won't come back for that warning.
- Weather warnings show as sent by National Weather Service in your alert history and Activity.
Which warnings
Warnings: tornado, severe thunderstorm, flash flood, extreme wind, hurricane, tropical storm, storm surge, tsunami, blizzard, ice storm, winter storm, snow squall, dust storm, earthquake, fire, evacuation, shelter in place, civil danger and emergencies, law enforcement, hazardous materials, and nuclear or radiological hazards. The full list is under Which warnings go on screens? on the Emergency alerts page.
Watches (if you choose them): tornado, severe thunderstorm, flash flood, hurricane, tropical storm, storm surge, tsunami and winter storm.
Outside the United States? Send an emergency alert yourself, or connect your local warning system through the API.