How triggers work

The triggers

First freeze

A forecast night low of 32°F or colder in the next 84 hours, or an active NWS Freeze Warning or Hard Freeze Warning for the ZIP (even if the ZIP's own forecast low is above 32°F). Once per ZIP per season. The season resets on July 1.

Hard freeze

A forecast night low of 28°F or colder in the next 84 hours. At most once every 72 hours per ZIP.

Extreme heat

An active NWS Heat Advisory, Extreme Heat Watch or Extreme Heat Warning for the ZIP, or a forecast heat index of 105°F or higher in the next 84 hours. At most once every 72 hours per ZIP.

Storms

An active NWS Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Tornado Watch, Tornado Warning, Winter Storm Watch, Winter Storm Warning, Blizzard Warning or Ice Storm Warning for the ZIP. Once per NWS alert.

How we check

• We check the NWS forecast and active alerts for every service ZIP every 3 hours.
• Each ZIP is checked at its center point: the NWS 7-day forecast (night lows), the gridded heat index and the active alerts for that point. We look 84 hours ahead.
• These are the default trigger points. On the Pro and Multi-location plans you can change the temperature trigger points for your shop.
• When a trigger fires, ForecastBooked builds a marketing kit for that shop to review and send to its own opted-in customers. It is not an emergency alert.

Data: NOAA/National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), used as published. ForecastBooked is not affiliated with or endorsed by NOAA or the NWS. More answers in the FAQ.