A wind advisory is generally issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when there are sustained thunderstorm winds of 31mph39mph and/or gusts of 46mph57mph over land. Winds over the said cap will trigger high wind alerts rather than a wind advisory. The advisory is site specific, but winds of this magnitude occurring over an area that frequently experiences such wind speeds on a basis will not trigger a wind advisory.[1] A slightly lower wind speed in areas around lakes may trigger a Lake wind advisory instead.
The following is an example of a Wind Advisory issued by the National Weather Service Office in Norman, Oklahoma on Sunday November 25, 2018.[2]
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED National Weather Service Norman OK 1147 AM CST Sun Nov 25 2018 OKZ004>024-033>038-TXZ083>085-087-088-252100- /O.CON.KOUN.WI.Y.0019.000000T0000Z-181125T2100Z/ Harper-Woods-Alfalfa-Grant-Kay-Ellis-Woodward-Major-Garfield- Noble-Roger Mills-Dewey-Custer-Blaine-Kingfisher-Logan-Payne- Beckham-Washita-Caddo-Canadian-Harmon-Greer-Kiowa-Jackson-Tillman- Comanche-Hardeman-Foard-Wilbarger-Knox-Baylor- Including the cities of Buffalo, Laverne, Alva, Cherokee, Helena, Carmen, Medford, Pond Creek, Lamont, Wakita, Ponca City, Blackwell, Shattuck, Arnett, Gage, Fargo, Woodward, Fairview, Enid, Perry, Cheyenne, Hammon, Seiling, Vici, Taloga, Leedey, Weatherford, Clinton, Watonga, Geary, Okeene, Kingfisher, Hennessey, Okarche, Guthrie, Stillwater, Elk City, Sayre, Cordell, Burns Flat, Sentinel, Anadarko, Hinton, Yukon, Concho, El Reno, Mustang, Hollis, Mangum, Granite, Hobart, Snyder, Altus, Frederick, Lawton, Quanah, Crowell, Vernon, Munday, Knox City, and Seymour 1147 AM CST Sun Nov 25 2018 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON... * WINDS...Northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * TIMING...Until mid-afternoon Sunday. * IMPACTS...Strong winds can cause unsecured items to be blown into other structures or people. Driving may be difficult in some areas. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Wind Advisory means that winds of 35 mph with higher gusts are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && $$