Aug 14, 2024 - Climate
New Orleans ranks high in annual severe weather watches
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New Orleans is in the Top 40 metros in terms of the most severe weather watches, according to federal data.
Why it matters: Our emergency phone alerts really do buzz more than usual.
The big picture: The heat map indicates the thunderstorm and tornado watches issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- New Orleans averaged 11 annually between 2004 and 2023, according to NOAA. Baton Rouge averaged 13.
- Oklahoma City had the highest average of 19.
Between the lines: The numbers don't include heat advisories, flash flood warnings, air quality alerts, tropical storm warnings or any of the other weather alerts New Orleanians face on a regular basis.
The bottom line: Know how to get weather updates because there's always something lurking in New Orleans.