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Emergency Warning System


The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) launched the Emergency Warning System on 30 August 2013. Emergency Warnings are issued to alert people to the significant likelihood of catastrophes in association with natural phenomena of extraordinary magnitude.

Residents should take all measures possible to protect themselves in the event that an Emergency Warning is issued.


What is an Emergency Warning?


JMA issues various warnings to alert people to possible catastrophes caused by extraordinary natural phenomena such as heavy rain, earthquakes, tsunami and storm surges. In addition to such warnings, advisories and other bulletins, JMA started issuing Emergency Warnings to alert people to the significant likelihood of catastrophes if phenomena are expected to be of a scale that will far exceed the warning criteria.

Emergency Warnings are intended for extraordinary phenomena such as the major tsunami caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake by which 18,000 people were killed or left missing, the 1959 storm surge in Ise Bay caused by Typhoon Vera, by which more than 5,000 people were killed or left missing, and the 2011 heavy rain caused by Typhoon Talas, by which around 100 people were killed or left missing.

The issuance of an Emergency Warning for an area indicates a level of exceptional risk of a magnitude observed only once every few decades. Residents should pay attention to their surroundings and relevant information such as municipal evacuation advisories and evacuations, and should take all steps necessary to protect life.


Relationship between Emergency Warnings and Other Warnings/Advisories


Emergency Warnings are intended for extraordinary phenomena expected to be of a scale that will far exceed the warning criteria. Warnings and Advisories continue to be issued in their current form even after the introduction of Emergency Warnings.

Residents should not let down their guard even if no Emergency Warning is currently in effect in the area. It is important to take action early wherever possible with reference to relevant weather bulletins, Advisories and Warnings, which are updated in response to the latest phenomenon observations or predictions. Especially for heavy rain, flood, landslide and storm surge, JMA issues Warnings/Advisories corresponding five Alert Levels, including Urgent Warnings equivalent to Alert Level 4, which mean a likelihood of catastrophes by a natural phenomenon is high and that all residents should evacuate from dangerous areas. It is important to finish evacuation while the Urgent Warnings are issued at the latest for these four phenomena. It is also important for elderly people, those with disabilities, and others who may need more time to evacuate to start evacuation once Warnings equivalent to Alert Level 3 are issued for these four phenomena.

The criteria for Emergency Warning issuance were determined in response to the views of local governments in charge of disaster management for their own areas. In regard to earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions, JMA maintains the system of warning nomenclature used until 29 August, 2013 but issues messages in the new classification of Emergency Warnings for high-risk conditions. These include Major Tsunami Warnings, Volcanic Warnings (Level 4 or more) and Earthquake Early Warnings (incorporating prediction of tremors measuring 6-lower or more on JMA's seismic intensity scale).

Reference: Weather Warnings/Advisories

Level 5 Emergency Warning	Heavy rain	Flood	Landslide	Storm surge
Level 4 Urgent Warning	Heavy rain	Flood	Landslide	Storm surge
Level 3 Warning	Heavy rain	Flood	Landslide	Storm surge
Level 2 Advisory	Heavy rain	Flood	Landslide	Storm surge

Emergency Warnings	Storm	Snow-storm	Heavy snow	High waves
Warnings	Storm	Snow-storm	Heavy snow	High waves
Advisories	Gale and snow	Gale	Heavy snow	Dense fog
Thunderstorm	Dry air	Avalanche	Ice (snow) accretion
Frost	Low temperature	Snow-melting
Probability of Warnings	Heavy rain	Landslide	Storm	Heavy snow
Storm surge	High waves

※Alert levels set by the Cabinet Office are a five‑level framework designed to help residents intuitively understand the evacuation actions that are expected to take during disasters (e.g., Alert Level 4: Evacuation Order; Alert Level 3: Evacuation for the Elderly and Others). In 2026, JMA reorganized Warnings and Advisories by specific disaster type (Heavy rain, Flood, Landslide, Storm surge), classifying them into five Alert levels. These Warnings and Advisories are issued with corresponding Alert levels number included directly in the warning name, so that actions to be taken for each phase be easily understood.

Reference: Criteria for Issuance of Emergency Warnings


If you see/hear an Emergency Warning


Recommended responses to all Emergency Warnings

Take all steps possible to protect yourself if an Emergency Warning is issued.

An extraordinary phenomenon of a magnitude never experienced by local residents is likely to occur. Take immediate action to protect life.

The possibility of a catastrophe is high even if the area has not experienced a disaster for several decades. Do not let your guard down.

In case of

Heavy rain

Examples of municipal and resident responses to weather Warnings/Advisories related to heavy rain

Tsunami

Evacuate immediately to a safer place such as high ground or a tall building designated as an evacuation center.

Tsunami warnings and action to be taken

Volcanic activity

Evacuate or prepare to evacuate from alert areas.

Volcanic alert levels and action to be taken

Volcanic warnings and action to be taken (for volcanoes where volcanic alert levels are not applied)

Earthquakes

Earthquake Early Warnings incorporating prediction of tremors measuring 6-lower or more on JMA's seismic intensity scale will be issued in the classification of Emergency Warnings. The action to be taken will not change. Remain calm and secure personal safety based on your surroundings.

Earthquake Early Warnings: Dos & Don'ts


Recommended responses to Urgent Warnings equivalent to Alert Level 4 for Heavy rain, Flood, Landslide, Storm surge

All residents should evacuate from dangerous areas.

Recommended responses to Warnings equivalent to Alert Level 3 for Heavy rain, Flood, Landslide, Storm surge

Elderly people, those with disabilities, and others who may need more time to evacuate should evacuate from dangerous areas.


For more information


Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ (Emergency Warnings)


Links


Warnings and Advisories currently in effect

Weather Warnings/Advisories

Tsunami Warnings/Advisories and Tsunami Information Bulletins

Volcanic Warnings/Forecasts





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