Using ‘PDS’ Alerts to Capture Attention During Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and Now Wildfires

The Los Angeles page of the National Weather Service prominently displays “Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS)” in bright pink text against a gray backdrop.

This exceptional alert is designed to draw attention to the severe wildfire risk anticipated to begin in Southern California at 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

Originally, PDS warnings were developed to alert people about tornado outbreaks in the Midwest. Over a decade ago, three meteorologists suggested broadening these warnings to cover other disasters like ice storms, floods, hurricanes, and now wildfires.

Capturing Attention

“It grabs attention, amplifying awareness and the urgency for action,” stated one of the scientists, Jonathan Howell.

The aim was for the term to “become synonymous with extreme weather events” and to be applicable to emergencies such as hurricanes and snowstorms, Howell and his colleagues noted during a presentation at the American Meteorological Society conference in 2011.

“I truly believe this has made a difference and has saved lives over the years,” Howell, who serves as the science and operations officer at the weather service’s Mobile, Alabama office, informed The Associated Press.

Historical Warnings

One of the first instances of the phrase “particularly dangerous situation” was recorded in an April 1, 1983, Associated Press article discussing a massive storm system that resulted in a sweeping dust storm in West Texas. A tornado watch was issued for 24 counties in East Texas, with the National Weather Service alerting: “This is a particularly dangerous situation with the potential for highly damaging tornadoes.”

In June 2005, the National Weather Service issued a PDS warning as conditions were ripe for a tornado outbreak in Oklahoma and Kansas.

The PDS warning has also been utilized to communicate urgency concerning tornado outbreaks in subsequent years. For instance, one was issued in November 2022 when supercells were anticipated across parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

PDS Alerts for Wildfires

In early November last year, as Santa Ana winds intensified the Mountain Fire northwest of Los Angeles, the National Weather Service issued a PDS alert, labeling the threat as “extreme and life-threatening.”

Then, on December 9, residents in Los Angeles and Ventura counties received another “particularly dangerous situation” alert as Santa Ana winds swept through the mountains.