What is the Red Warning for the Rain? Understanding Color-Coded Weather Alert

Authorized officials, such as the National Weather Service, will disseminate a color-coded weather warning before an extreme weather event, such as a rainstorm. Different colors of alerts signify the severity of the rainstorm. What is the red warning for the rain? 

In a weather alert system, a red alert typically indicates that a serious weather event is imminent. This warning also means that people in the affected areas or who receive this message must take action to respond to the emergency. Therefore, they can reduce the risk of being hurt by the event.

Rainstorm Warning System

Rainstorms can be extremely dangerous to communities. Heavy rainfall that lasts for hours can lead to floods. Moreover, strong winds and lightning that accompany a rainstorm can damage houses and infrastructure. All those phenomena may also result in casualties and fatalities.

Therefore, countries that are prone to this weather hazard establish a rainstorm warning system. This system will detect a potential rainstorm, tropical storm, or tropical cyclone in advance. After detecting a potential rainstorm, it automatically warns authorities. 

Then, authorities will broadcast a rainstorm alert to the affected communities. The dissemination of this alert may be done hours to days before the extreme weather reaches the communities. Thus, they have time to prepare for this hazard.

A rainstorm alert comes in different color codes depending on the level of severity. Aside from communicating the emergency through color codes, the warning also contains detailed information, including the time and date of the storm, affected locations, and how to respond to the situation.

What is the Red Warning for the Rain?

Different countries apply diverse color codes in their rainstorm warning systems. However, in most rainstorm warning systems, bold- or dark-colored codes indicate extreme danger. What is the red warning for the rain? Below is the meaning of the red rain warning in different rainstorm alert systems. 

Hong Kong Rainstorm Warning System

Hong Kong is prone to rainstorms from April to September. Therefore, the Hong Kong Observatory establishes an excellent rainstorm warning system.

This authorized official will broadcast a red rainstorm alert if a rainfall exceeds 50 mm is expected to fall within an hour or has fallen and possibly will continue. When there is a red rainstorm alert, people in Hong Kong must follow these guidelines.

• Consider the weather and road conditions before travelling.

• Outdoor employees must postpone outdoor duties when heavy rain is guaranteed to occur.

• Indoor employees must stay indoors.

• If the authority issues the red rainstorm alert before working hours, employees must report for duty as usual, unless public transport is suspended.

  IKCEST-DRR

International Knowledge Center for Engineering Science and Technology (IKCEST) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) of China will issue different color codes for varied rainstorm conditions. A red warning is the highest level of alert in the IKCEST-DRR system.

What is a red weather warning in this rainstorm alert system? The red warning means that rainfall will reach 100 mm within three hours or has already reached 100 mm and will continue. The defense guidelines for this hazard are as follows.

• Prevent and respond to possible rain-related disasters, including landslides.

• Discontinue assemblies, delay classes, and business in the affected areas.

• The government and authorized officials must conduct an effective task in rainstorm prevention response and emergency rescue in line with their duties.

  NWS (USA)

The National Weather Service (NWS) of the USA has colorful codes for various extreme weather events. For hydrological hazards, a red alert indicates that a flash flood may occur within 6 hours. A red alert may also mean that a hurricane or a tropical storm will strike within 12 to 36 hours.

NDRRMC (The Philippines)

The Philippines has a high-risk index of extreme weather exposure. Each year, heavy rains cause severe flooding in this country. Therefore, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) of the Philippines issues color-coded warnings for rain.

The red alert warning weather in this country sits at the highest level. NDRRMC will disseminate this warning when torrential rain is about to fall. This rainfall is over 33 mm in an hour and may cause flooding in hazardous areas.

MET Office (UK)

The MET Office in the UK will disseminate one of its three color-coded weather warnings depending on the situation. The red rainstorm warning is the most severe rain warnings in the MET Office system.

It means a powerful rainstorm is about to happen. The red warning also indicates that this extreme weather will damage buildings, delay public transport, and cause power cuts. Therefore, people must stay safe and avoid travel.

What is the red warning for the rain? Red rain warning indicates heavy rain. This weather event may also cause damage and flooding. Therefore, people in the affected areas must stay safe. The dissemination of this alert is done via cell broadcast and other channels. Thus, governments will need cell broadcast technology from smsbroadcaster.com for this dissemination.