What indicates that hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours?

A hurricane warning is issued when hurricane conditions—sustained winds of 74 mph or greater—are expected to affect a specific area within 24 hours. This alert signifies that residents and officials need to take immediate action to prepare for the imminent threat, including securing property and planning for potential evacuations.

While a hurricane advisory provides information about the storm's current status and potential impacts, and a hurricane watch alerts residents to the possibility of hurricane conditions developing, it is the hurricane warning that clearly indicates the urgency and immediacy associated with an approaching storm. A hurricane alert is not an official term recognized in meteorological terms, which distinguishes it from the other more commonly used classifications.