What is a 3NEWS weather warning?

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – We have a new way to inform you and provide reassurance when the weather could affect you or your family. Chief Meteorologist Alan Holt and the rest of the 3NEWS team of meteorologists gathered to determine which weather in our area has the biggest impact on our lives.

They created a list of specific weather-related criteria—such as wind gusts over 45 mph or a wind chill of -25°F or less—that could trigger a new notification we call a weather alert.

Is today a 3NEWS weather warning day? Click here for the current forecast

Don’t worry – we’ll still use other alerts like tornado warnings and hurricane warnings – but this is a new way to add even more high-impact days that don’t always get enough attention. The goal is to give you a better idea of ​​which days to pay attention to the weather.

The weather team meets regularly to discuss the criteria and if they feel a change is needed we will update this page as well.

Here’s a look at those criteria as of July 1, 2024:

• High temperature of or above 100 degrees. (Issued for the first day when there are several days in a row with temperatures of 100 degrees.)
• Heat index at or above 115 degrees

• Low temperature at or below 32 degrees
• Wind chill at or below 25 degrees
• Any type of winter precipitation (snow, sleet, freezing rain)

• If coverage is 40 to 60% between 5am and 8pm
• If the coverage is 60% or more at any time

• Sustained winds over 35 miles per hour
• Wind gusts over 45 miles per hour

Storms and tropics

• Low or high risk of severe weather according to the Storm Prediction Center. (Usually within three days.)
• Low or higher risk of flooding rain from the Weather Forecast Center
• Whenever a named storm impacts our viewing area. Impacts may include rain, wind, and storm surge.

Other weather-related risks

• Waves higher than 1.80 m and with a wave period of more than 8 seconds. (Between March 1 and November 1.)
• A fire weather warning has been issued for the observation area
• First day that Saharan dust reaches the observation area
• Ozone Action Day declared by the National Weather Service

Due to the nature of weather forecasting, our weather warning days will be limited to the next five days. If a weather warning day is declared and the weather forecast changes, we will let you know about that as well.