How to Get Weather Alerts
How to Get Weather Alerts
HOW TO GET WEATHER ALERTS: The Longmont Office of Emergency Management encourages residents to use the following National Weather Service (NWS) based notification systems for Boulder County because the emergency sirens are no longer in use:
1. Smart phone weather apps (NOAA, Weather Live)
2. Social Media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NWSBoulder/) or Twitter @NWSBoulder
3. Website: http://www.weather.gov/bou/
4. Weather Radio: Information transmitted from a weather radio does not require internet service. This information is distributed directly from the National Weather Service Boulder County. Weather radios can be purchased at most hardware and retail stores that sell electronics.
The NWS, located in Boulder, provides weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life. This NWS center is monitored 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week providing up-to-the-minute tracking of weather within the area. Without a doubt, the National Weather Service is the most effective way to learn about impending bad weather.
WHY THE CHANGE: The city of Longmont reached a decision on April 4, 2017 to discontinue usage of the Outdoor Emergency Warning System (OEWS). As such, no further testing of the OEWS will occur in Longmont.
The Longmont system was manually activated from the Longmont Emergency Communications Center (LECC) based on notification from the National Weather Service and local certified weather spotters. The siren system was used only for tornadoes and was part of a larger public warning plan. The sirens were not effective at getting citizens inside a shelter which was their purpose.
So the city council has directed OEM staff to implement a new public warning strategy during severe weather events that utilizes newer technologies. This strategy includes utilizing technology to automatically “push” customized severe weather information to smartphones and landlines, using technology to deliver weather information to city facilities (outdoor pools, etc.), and increasing the outreach and education around weather radios.
Should you have further questions, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at (303)651-8438.
