ResearchNWS warnings2008-2025
NWS warnings by year, 2008-2025
The National Weather Service issued between 29,608 (2014) and 45,778 (2008) warnings a year in 2008-2025, and severe thunderstorm warnings were 50-63% of them every year. Of the warnings issued at least 100 times a year in 2008-2010, flash flood warnings grew most (+12%, from 3,950 to 4,424 a year in 2023-2025) and heavy snow warnings fell most (−100%).
The finding in numbers
45,778warnings in 2008, the busiest year
29,608in 2014, the quietest
50-63%severe thunderstorm warnings' share
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of NWS watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC).
Warnings a year
Every NWS warning (VTEC significance W), counted once nationally. The current year is an outline.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of NWS watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC).
When in the year
All warnings 2008-2025 by month.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of NWS watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC).
Which warnings changed most
| Warning | 2008-2010 a year | 2023-2025 a year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood Warning | 3,950 | 4,424 | +12% |
| Severe Thunderstorm Warning | 22,249 | 22,943 | +3% |
| High Wind Warning | 593 | 586 | −1% |
| Winter Storm Warning | 826 | 690 | −16% |
| Freeze Warning | 657 | 537 | −18% |
| Tornado Warning | 3,792 | 3,060 | −19% |
| Blizzard Warning | 160 | 121 | −24% |
| Flood Warning | 6,004 | 4,534 | −24% |
| Red Flag Warning | 1,569 | 947 | −40% |
| Heavy Snow Warning | 215 | 0 | −100% |
Added since 2008: the snow squall warning, first issued in 2018 (288 a year in 2023-2025).
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of NWS watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC).
Method and limits
By AreaZine. The finding and every figure are computed from the records when the page opens; the text is written with AI tools and checked against them (editorial policy).
Each NWS warning is one VTEC event (office, phenomenon, significance, event number), counted in the month it was first issued. The change table lists the warnings issued at least 100 times a year in 2008-2010; a smaller count would swing the percentage. The NWS renamed or merged several products in 2024-2025 (excessive heat to extreme heat, wind chill to extreme cold, hard freeze into freeze); AreaZine counts each as one type under today's name. Counts measure warnings issued, not storms: offices warn by polygon for storms, so one storm can bring several warnings.