This week, the Meteorological Service of Canada is significantly changing how it issues Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, moving away from large, pre-defined county and municipal areas and toward storm-specific polygons that track a storm's actual, evolving footprint.

Adiona Alert already delivers ultra-precise, location-based alerts: we only notify you when your exact position falls inside the at-risk area the issuing agency has defined. ([Read more in our article on why location-based precision matters.](https://adionaalert.com/posts/precise-location-based)) Until now, that precision was still built on top of Canada's older, much larger areas. This week's change tightens the other half of that equation.

The Meteorological Service of Canada isn't the first to make this move. The National Weather Service in the U.S. has issued storm-based polygon warnings since 2007, and after two years of development, Canada's own version launches starting this week.

## What's Actually Changing

Starting as early as Tuesday, August 11th (with Wednesday and Thursday as backup dates if weather or technical issues intervene), forecasters will draw a free-form shape directly on a map, called a polygon, around the specific area a thunderstorm or tornado threatens. Instead of issuing a warning for an entire county or forecast region, the warning applies to that smaller, storm-specific shape.

A spokesperson for the Meteorological Service of Canada described it simply: forecasters will "outline the area most likely to be affected by a severe thunderstorm or tornado and send a warning only to people located in that area." Forecasters can extend the polygon downstream, out to wherever the storm is projected to track over the next 30 to 45 minutes, based on its speed and direction.

The change applies only to two alert types: Tornado Warnings and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued for destructive wind or very large hail. Every other alert type, including winter storm, rainfall, heat, and air quality alerts, will continue to use the existing zone-based system.

This precision only shows up, though, on delivery channels that can actually target a specific area. Wireless public alerts pushed to cell phones, and services like Adiona Alert that check your exact location against the warned area, will reflect the new, tighter polygon directly. Broadcast channels that can't pinpoint a specific location, television, radio, and many general-purpose weather apps, will continue distributing alerts based on the larger county or municipal areas they've always used, since there's no way to target a shape on the airwaves, or in an app that isn't checking your GPS position.

## Built for Storms That Don't Sit Still

One of the most valuable, and least talked about, parts of this upgrade is how the polygon behaves once a warning is already in effect. Severe storms are extremely dynamic: they grow, weaken, change direction, and speed up or slow down. A storm-based warning system is designed to track with that.

As a storm evolves, forecasters can update the polygon in near real time:

- **Areas can be added** to an active warning as a storm shifts or expands toward a community not originally included.
- **Alerts will be ended for areas the storm no longer affects**, as soon as forecasters confirm the threat has passed, rather than leaving an entire zone under warning long after the storm has actually left it.
- **The threat details themselves can be updated** within the same warning, including hail size, wind gusts, and whether tornadic development has been confirmed, so the information tied to your specific area stays current as the storm matures.

This is a meaningful departure from the old system, where a single warning covered a large, fixed zone for its entire duration regardless of how the storm inside it changed. Canada's implementation, developed under the Meteorological Service of Canada's Convective Alert Modernization (CAM) project, was specifically built to reduce this kind of over-alerting while keeping the warning's technical details tied to the storm's actual, evolving footprint, not the boundary it started with.

One of the most meaningful benefits of this approach is a real reduction in alert fatigue. Because the warned area is tied to the storm's actual footprint rather than a fixed zone, far fewer people receive a given warning in the first place. And because a single warning is updated and ended for specific areas as the storm moves, rather than closed out and reissued over and over, people near a storm's path get one alert that evolves with the threat, instead of a string of separate, overlapping warnings for the same event.

### Want to Nerd Out on the Actual Alert Science? (Totally Fine to Skip This Part)

Fair warning: this next bit is for the small slice of readers who genuinely enjoy warning-dissemination methodology. If that's not you, jump ahead to "A Real Alert From One of Our Users, and What It Could Look Like Under the New System" below, that's honestly the best part of this article anyway, no hard feelings.

Still here? Good, because the way Canada and the U.S. handle a *moving* polygon isn't actually the same, and the difference says something about where this technology is headed.

**The U.S. approach today:** under current NWS practice, a storm-based warning polygon can shrink as forecasters refine the threat area, but it's not stretched to cover new ground. If a storm tracks outside its original shape, the NWS issues a brand-new warning for the newly threatened area rather than expanding the existing one.

**Canada's approach with CAM:** the new system updates one active warning as a storm moves, rather than closing a warning and issuing a new one every time the storm shifts. Newly threatened communities are added into the existing warning, and communities the storm has cleared are removed from it, or have their alert ended, well before the wider warning's stated expiry time. It's a subtly different philosophy from the current U.S. approach: one evolving alert that follows the storm, rather than a sequence of fresh, overlapping ones, and it's the design work directly behind the alert fatigue reduction mentioned above.

**Where the science is heading next:** NWS researchers have already proposed a further step past both approaches, called Threats-in-Motion (TIM), where the warning polygon is attached directly to the storm and advances with it continuously, rather than being redrawn by a forecaster at intervals. It's still a research concept, not something in operational use, but it's a useful reminder that this week's launch is an early step on a longer road, not the finish line.

If you want to go straight to the source material:
- The Meteorological Service of Canada's CAM project summary: [AMS 104th Annual Meeting abstract, "Moving toward Free-Form Threat Polygon Based Convective Warnings"](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024AMS...10435918P/abstract)
- Current NWS storm-based warning methodology: [NWS, "Why Storm Based Warnings?"](https://www.weather.gov/media/pah/WeatherEducation/stormbased.pdf)
- The Threats-in-Motion research: [Stumpf & Gerard, 2021, *Weather and Forecasting*](https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/wefo/36/2/WAF-D-20-0159.1.xml)

## A Real Alert Sent to One of Our Users, and What It Could Look Like Under the New System

All of this is easier to see in a real example than in the abstract, so here's one.

On the evening of August 10th, 2026, the day before the new system's planned launch, the Meteorological Service of Canada issued a genuine Severe Thunderstorm Warning to one of Adiona Alert's own users deep in Algonquin Provincial Park.

At 5:47 p.m. EDT, forecasters were tracking a severe thunderstorm near Kiosk, moving quickly east at 65 km/h, capable of strong wind gusts up to 90 km/h, hail near quarter size (about 2.5 cm), and heavy rain of 15 to 25 mm. The alert named Algonquin Provincial Park, Lake Travers, and Grand Lake as locations in the storm's path.

Because the new polygon-based system hadn't launched yet, this alert went out the old way, to two large, pre-defined zones, "Deep River – Whitney – Eastern Algonquin Park" and "Western Algonquin Park – Lake of Two Rivers", covering a combined area of roughly 10,300 km², close to the size of the entire country of Lebanon.

![](https://dir.adionaalert.com/assets/fa427d17-ab4b-4378-b08b-6211a00b9c0a)

Adiona Alert received this warning from the Meteorological Service of Canada and delivered it directly to our user's Garmin inReach Mini the moment their GPS position registered inside the warned zone, exactly the way our service is designed to work. Their alert was correct, since they genuinely were close to where the storm was tracking. But that same warning would have reached every other Adiona Alert user anywhere inside that 10,300 km² area, including someone who might have been paddling in the far southeast corner of eastern Algonquin, more than 100 km from Kiosk and nowhere near this storm's actual path.

### What a Storm-Based Polygon Might Have Looked Like (Hypothetical)

To make the difference concrete, we built a hypothetical storm-based polygon using this storm's own real, published parameters, its location near Kiosk, its 65 km/h eastward motion, and its hazard profile. To be clear: this is not a product the Meteorological Service of Canada actually issued that night, the storm-based system wasn't live yet, and no forecaster drew this specific shape. It's our own illustration of what a forecaster would plausibly draw under the new methodology for a storm moving this fast.

The result: a simulated warned area of about 3,189 km², roughly 69% smaller than the real, zone-based alert that was actually issued that evening.

![![The two warning areas overlaid on the same map](algonquin-polygon-overlay.svg)](https://dir.adionaalert.com/assets/20b8a0d5-ed4c-4f11-88d3-51f96cc9734a)

Overlaying the two makes the gap even clearer. Nearly all of our simulated storm-based polygon, about 99%, sits inside the real zone-based warning area, which makes sense, since the storm genuinely was somewhere in that broader region. But the simulated polygon covers only about 30% of the total zone-based footprint. The remaining 70%, more than 7,100 km² of Algonquin backcountry, would likely never have been warned at all for this particular storm under a real storm-based system.

For our user near Kiosk, nothing would have changed: they were in the right place to receive this specific alert either way. But for the roughly seven in ten square kilometres of warned wilderness the storm never actually threatened, a live storm-based system means fewer unnecessary alerts, without costing a moment of warning time for the people who are genuinely at risk. That's precision working exactly as intended, not in the abstract, but for a specific storm, on a specific evening, for a specific person carrying a satellite communicator through the backcountry.

## What Polygons Don't Fix

It's worth being upfront about the limits of this change too. A smaller, more precise warning area is not the same thing as more precise tornado detection. Detecting rotation within a storm remains genuinely difficult, and severe thunderstorms will continue to be warned even when only a small fraction go on to produce a tornado, since waiting for visual or radar confirmation takes precious time that forecasters often can't spare.

## Why This Pairs So Well With Adiona Alert

This is exactly where Adiona Alert's approach supercharges your safety.

To be clear about how we work: Adiona Alert never creates its own warned areas or draws its own polygons. We always use the official, exact at-risk area as issued by the alerting agency itself, whether that's the Meteorological Service of Canada, the National Weather Service, or another authority, and only notify you when your precise GPS position, from the Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, or Bivy Stick satellite communicator you carry, falls inside that official area.

Until now, that meant we were matching your position against Canada's old, large zones. With the Meteorological Service of Canada now issuing Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings as storm-specific polygons, both halves of the chain are precise: the agency defines a tighter, storm-tracked at-risk area, and Adiona Alert matches that area against your exact location rather than a general zone.

The dynamic nature of the new system makes this pairing even stronger. Because forecasters can add areas, end alerts for areas the storm has cleared, and update storm details as a cell moves, a warning polygon can look meaningfully different than it did twenty minutes earlier. Adiona Alert's continuous location tracking means that as you move, whether you're driving, hiking, or paddling into or out of a storm's projected path, you're being checked against the polygon as it currently exists, not the shape it had when the warning was first issued. If a storm shifts and a new area is added to an active Tornado Warning, and you're in it, you're alerted. And if the storm moves past your location, the forecaster will issue an alert end for your specific area, so you'll know the threat has passed rather than being left to guess whether you're still at risk somewhere inside a much larger warned zone.

That combination, an agency drawing tighter, continuously-updated storm polygons, paired with a service that checks your exact position against those official areas as they evolve, is what real precision in severe weather alerting looks like.

## What to Do Starting This Week

Since Adiona Alert is built for people spending time off-grid and beyond cell coverage, the broader zone-based alerts still going out over TV, radio, and general apps this week aren't really the ones our users need to worry about missing; you're already getting the tightest, most current version of the warning available, directly from the source.

Where this week's change is worth your attention is upstream of the warning itself: severe thunderstorm and tornado watches. A watch means conditions are favourable for severe weather to develop, before any specific storm or warning exists yet, and watches still cover broad areas, and likely always will, since forecasters can't yet know exactly where a storm will form. Use a watch as your cue to think ahead: check your planned route or campsite for shelter options, and decide in advance how you'd stay safe if a warning were issued. We've written more about how to use severe weather watches to prepare in [[another article on our site]](https://adionaalert.com/posts/weather-warning-watch-differences).

Starting this week, Canadian severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings reaching you through Adiona Alert are more likely than ever to reflect a genuine, current threat to your specific location, and to end the moment the storm no longer threatens you. That's a meaningful step forward for anyone spending time outside cell coverage when severe weather develops.


The Meteorological Service of Canada is significantly changing how it issues Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, moving away from large, pre-defined county and municipal areas and toward storm-specific polygons that track the storm.

Canada's Severe Weather Warnings Just Got Sharper, Here's What Changed

Founder

We are excited to announce a new feature for our users - *Active Alerts*! Up until now, the Alerts page showed you a history of everything that's been sent to you, but there was no quick way to see what's actually happening **right now** without scrolling back through that history yourself. That changes today.

## What's New

A new alert icon now lives in your account header, right next to your notifications bell, and it follows you to every page in your account. It shows a live count of every warning, watch, or advisory currently in effect for your devices and locations - color-coded by severity so the most dangerous alerts always stand out first.

Click it open and you'll see, at a glance:

- Which device or location each alert applies to
- How long until it expires
- A short description of what's happening

And if an alert has been updated - say, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning that's been extended or upgraded - you'll only ever see the *latest* version. We do the work of following each alert's updates behind the scenes so your dropdown never gets cluttered with outdated information.

## Why We Built This

When severe weather is closing in, you shouldn't have to think about *where* to look for the latest information. *Active Alerts* is designed to answer one question as fast as possible: **what's active for me, right now?** Whether you're checking in from the Dashboard, your Devices page, or anywhere else in your account, the answer is always one click away.

Need the full picture? Clicking any alert in the dropdown takes you straight to that alert's full details on your Alerts page - description, instructions, and map, all in one spot.

## How It Works

*Active Alerts* checks in automatically every couple of minutes to keep your dropdown current, and refreshes immediately if you've been away and come back. No setup required - if you have a device or static location with an active alert, it will show up.

Stay informed, stay prepared, and know what's happening at a glance.

The Adiona Alert Team


A new Active Alerts dropdown in your account header shows every currently active warning for your devices and locations at a glance — no more digging through your alert history to see what's in effect right now.

Active Alerts: See What's Happening Right Now, From Any Page

Co-founder

Like many Canadians, we were surprised to learn this week that Environment and Climate Change Canada intends to discontinue their Weatheradio service, beginning March 16th, as part of the federal government’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review.

### The End of Weatheradio in Canada

The Weatheradio transmitter network has been an important means of receiving severe weather alerts issued by the Meteorological Service of Canada, particularly in remote communities and wilderness areas. The service wasn't a solution for everyone and had significant limitations, but for those who relied on it, its loss will be felt.

We've reached out to our colleagues at the Meteorological Service of Canada for more details on how the network will be closed — whether all at once in March or decommissioned over time. We'll share what we learn as soon as we can.

If you work or recreate in remote or wilderness areas, or lead others who do, the end of Weatheradio will require you to reassess how you manage the risk from severe weather.

### We Can Help

That challenge is exactly why we built Adiona Alert. Our service delivers severe weather and other safety alerts based on your current location, directly to the personal satellite communicator you already carry, devices like the Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, or Bivy Stick. 

We've now delivered over 20,000 alerts quickly and reliably across Canada and the U.S.

We also begun testing with satellite-capable iOS and Android smartphones; let us know if you'd like to join our tester group.

We'd be happy to help you think through your options, whether or not that includes our service.


Like many Canadians, we were surprised to learn this week that Environment and Climate Change Canada intends to discontinue their Weatheradio service, beginning March 16th, as part of the federal government’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review.

The End of Weatheradio in Canada

Have you ever wondered whether Adiona Alert can deliver emergency alerts in the most remote corners of the world? We recently put our service to the test in two of the most challenging locations imaginable, and the results speak for themselves.

### Tsunami Warning Reaches the Middle of the Pacific Ocean

![](https://dir.adionaalert.com/assets/2084a3e9-10c4-42f5-8df6-c0741b05ef1f)

On July 29, 2025, a massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck offshore of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, generating a significant tsunami that threatened multiple Pacific regions across the U.S. and Canada, including Hawaii.

But this wasn't just any location in Hawaii. Our test took place on Hōlanikū (the Kure Atoll), the northwestern most coral atoll in the Hawaiian island chain, located approximately 2,250 kilometres (1,400 miles) northwest of Honolulu. To put this in perspective, that's roughly the same distance as traveling from New York City to Denver, Colorado.

#### Why This Location Matters

The Kure Atoll faces unique tsunami risks. The atoll's highest point reaches only 7.3 meters (approximately 24 feet) above sea level on Green Island, the only stable landmass where researchers live year-round protecting Hawaii's most significant seabird sanctuary. This sanctuary hosts 18 seabird species with over 100,000 nesting birds.

When the National Weather Service National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, issued tsunami advisories and warnings across the Pacific—from the Aleutian Islands to the Pacific Coast and Hawaii, Hōlanikū was included despite being literally in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

#### The result? 

Thanks to well-practiced emergency protocols and reliable alert delivery, the research team received critical warnings, sought shelter, and remained safe and informed throughout the entire warning period.

You can learn more about and support the [Kure Atoll conservancy here](https://kureatollconservancy.org/).

### Wilderness Emergency Alert Test in Yellowstone

Our second test brought us closer to the continental U.S., but no less remote.

Yellowstone National Park, America's first national park (established 1872), spans 2.2 million acres across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Sitting atop the Yellowstone Caldera volcanic system, the park features dramatic landscapes and supports over 60 mammal species, including one of North America's largest free-roaming bison herds.

![](https://dir.adionaalert.com/assets/3d7a23f3-beac-4991-88e4-42b54f40a491)

#### The Challenge: Beyond Cellular Coverage

On Friday, September 12th, Teton County Emergency Management (TCEM) conducted their first-ever live Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test. We saw this as the perfect opportunity to test our capabilities in Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Shoshone Geyser Basin area, deep in the wilderness and far beyond cellular phone coverage.

#### The result? 

Within minutes of Teton County issuing their test alert, we successfully received, located, and delivered the alert to our remote test location—well outside the area where the alert would normally reach.

### Your Safety, Anywhere

Whether your adventures take you to the middle of the Pacific Ocean or America's most incredible wilderness areas, Adiona Alert ensures critical safety information reaches you when it matters most.

Because when emergencies strike, distance shouldn't determine your safety.

Have you ever wondered whether emergency alerts can reach you in the most remote corners of the world? At Adiona Alert, we recently put our service to the test in two of the most challenging locations imaginable, and the results speak for themselves.

Emergency Alerts in the Middle of Nowhere: From Pacific Islands to National Park Wilderness

You probably already know how valuable carrying a Garmin inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick satellite communicator is on your adventures.

You also know that we are obsessed about safety in the backcountry and communication. We have been in more adventures than we can count with two, three or four satellite communicators. We have also read, watched, and reflected on more than our share of articles or videos about using a Garmin inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick.

We can say that this video should be required viewing for anyone who has a satellite communicator, is travelling with someone who does, is considering getting one, or is comparing a Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, or Bivy Stick to the satellite functionality of the newest smartphones.

I encourage you to make the time to [watch Megin’s video](https://youtu.be/pmV3dEgBLMA?si=BNRgjKuc5KEp-qry) – it will likely change the way you look at your satellite communicator and how you prepare for your adventure.

We loved some of **Megin’s key takeaways**:

- Do you need more than one satellite communicator?
- ALWAYS make room for a battery pack! ([You know we are fans of this one](https://adionaalert.com/posts/location-update-frequency))
- Be prepared for a long adventure if you need to call for a rescue.


Megin make one of the clearest cases for never leaving on an adventure without a Garmin inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick we’ve heard – and she doesn’t even mention how valuable our location-based alerts can be to help you stay safe 😁

You can find [Megin’s video here](https://youtu.be/pmV3dEgBLMA?si=BNRgjKuc5KEp-qry). She also has a [great blog post about here experience here](https://www.foxintheforest.net/garmin-sos-story/).

What do you think? 


This video should be required viewing for anyone who has a satellite communicator, is travelling with someone who does, is considering getting one, or is comparing one to the satellite functionality of the newest smartphones.

One of the Best Discussions about Using a Garmin inReach (or ZOLEO or Bivy Stick) We’ve Seen!


Have you ever wondered how the Adiona Alert service differs from other apps or weather radio receivers? Or, how the ultra-precise location-based alerts we offer have a significant edge over other apps or weather radio receivers?

## Ultra-Precise, Location-Based Alerts

Adiona Alert tracks your current location through the GPS data reported by the Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, or Bivy Stick satellite communicator that you already carry. Because we access your precise longitude and latitude, we can send you alerts based on your exact position. Whether an alert is for your current location or was issued earlier, our service will promptly send you the relevant information when you are in the affected area.

Unlike other apps or services, we do not rely on broad areas like county boundaries when the alerting agency has specified a particular, defined zone. I will discuss this further shortly, but as a result, you will not receive an alert just because you are in a general area or county, even if you are out of danger, and instead, you will only get an alert when you are within the carefully determined zone as set by the alerting agency.

## Area or County-Based Alerts
 
Many weather alerting apps and services issue alerts based on the county or area you are in, even if the app monitors your location. As a result, when you receive an alert, you lack clarity about whether the tornado, flash flood, or other severe weather genuinely poses a risk to you.

Here are two examples based on recent flash flood alerts issued by the U.S. National Weather Service, which we delivered to our users in Arizona.

The first, a flash flood warning, was issued on September 4, 2025, for Coconino County, Arizona, due to heavy rain and debris flow risk, including the Grand Canyon National Park and nearby areas.

![](https://dir.adionaalert.com/assets/0675614f-2b64-42db-8edd-48389f3ad00b)

As shown in the image above, the alert was issued for a specific and limited area within Coconino County, marked by the blue-shaded region. When the NWS issued the warning, it evaluated only this particular area as being affected by the risk from heavy rains and debris flow. However, it also extended this alert to the entire Coconino County, shown by the green-shaded area on the map, for the purpose of disseminating the alert through channels like weather radio receivers, TV and radio emergency alert system notifications, and other alerting services. As a result, some individuals may have received this alert across a much larger area than the actual risk zone.

Compared to the entire county, which is 18,661 square miles (48,330 km²) and the second largest county in the continental United States, we only send alerts to users when their last reported location is in or near the affected area or blue shaded area, which is approximately 71 square miles (183 km²). **The at-risk or blue shaded area accounts for less than 0.4% of the total warned region**.

Let’s examine another flash flood warning issued the next day, on September 5th, 2025, this time for southwestern Mohave County in Arizona and northeastern San Bernardino County in California. Similar to the first alert, the NWS assessed the risk as “life-threatening flash flooding of low-water crossings, creeks, normally dry washes and roads” and outlined a specific area, marked with blue shading on the map. To aid public understanding, NWS meteorologists included a description of the impacted area in the alert, noting “Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Lake Havasu City, Parker Dam, Topock, Highway 95 At Mile Marker 29, Wikieup, Needles, Desert Hills, Three Dunes Campground, Cattail Cove State Park, Black Meadow Landing Campground, Earp, Big River, Arizona Village, Mohave Valley, Vidal Junction and Wild Cow Campground. This includes the following highways... Interstate 40 in Arizona between mile markers 0 and 1. Interstate 40 in California between mile markers 139 and 155.” To their credit, this description would have been helpful to individuals receiving the alert via weather radio, as it provided clear points of reference.

![](https://dir.adionaalert.com/assets/7d851d0a-e0f2-45d8-ab1e-a79ac06a679c)

However, the alerted area was the counties of Mohave County and San Bernardino County (the green shaded area on the map), covering a total of 33,566 square miles (86,930 km²), which is larger than the state of Maine. In contrast, the actual defined at-risk area (the blue shaded area on the map) was only 3,164 square miles (8,193 km²), **less than 10% of the total county-based warning area**.

## NOAA Weather Radio and Canadian Weatheradio

Let me begin this section by highlighting the excellent services that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio Service and the Meteorological Service of Canada's Weatheradio deliver, which have been provided since the 1960s. These services are essential and offer life-saving information for communities across the U.S. and Canada. This network of more than 1000 radio transmitters supplies over 95% of the U.S. population (nearly 200 radio transmitters serving more than 90% of the population in Canada) with current weather conditions, weather forecasts, and severe weather alerts.

> The broadcast range for a NOAA Weather Radio or Canadian Weatheradio transmitter is about 40 miles (60 kilometres), but this largely depends on factors like terrain, receiver quality, and antenna height above ground.

Weather radio receivers are also easily accessible; you might already own one as part of a two-way radio, such as FRS/GMRS or marine radio. Some of these radios and specialized weather receivers can even emit a loud tone during a severe weather alert. The most advanced dedicated weather radios can be programmed to notify users only when an alert is issued for their area, using Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) codes, which mostly align with county boundaries. Dedicated weather radios using SAME codes provide a reliable way to receive alerts for a designated area, like a county. However, they cannot deliver alerts specific only to at-risk zones such as those for flash floods, severe thunderstorms, or tornado warnings. 

Now imagine this difference for alerts issued for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, based on a county-based area versus the specific, observed path of the storm system, as illustrated in the first radar-alert image at the top of this article.

Adiona Alert enables our users to receive highly accurate, location-based alerts directly on the Garmin inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick satellite communicators they already carry. We provide improved alerts without the need for a separate weather radio – one less device to carry, charge, and maintain, all with the simplicity and dependability of our service.

## Satellite Delivery to the Device You Already Carry

Of course, the ability to receive our alerts anywhere — well beyond the reach of cellular service or other traditional connectivity — is another key benefit.

Adiona Alert accompanies you *wherever your adventures take you* and delivers these alerts based on your specific location. When we send an alert to your device, you can clearly see that you are in the at-risk area, without changing the location you’re monitoring or trying to figure out if your campsite is on the affected section of the river listed in the alert. 

***Simplicity, reliability, and peace of mind!***


Have you ever wondered how the Adiona Alert service differs from other apps or weather radio receivers? Or, how the ultra-precise location-based alerts we offer have a significant edge over other apps or weather radio receivers?

How Adiona Alert Uses Ultra-Precise Location-Based Alerts to Outperform Others

### Here’s What Your Adventure Buddies Need to Know:
 
Most of us don’t head out alone into remote areas. When you’re out with a group, it's unlikely everyone has their own satellite communicator. Have you thought about making sure everyone knows how to use your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick?

### Getting Ready for Emergencies:
 
It’s super important that everyone in your group is prepared and knows about your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick. Do you know if everyone can operate your  inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick? Who else in the group has a satellite communicator?
 
You and your friends should know where your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick is if there’s an emergency. It doesn’t help much if you’re hurt and your adventure buddies don’t know where to find your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick or how to use it.
 
### Understanding the Alerts:
 
Make sure everyone in your group knows what kind of alerts your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick might receive.
 
For example, if you’re taking a quick nap or swimming in an alpine lake after a long day, and your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick is in camp, a flood warning or wildfire alert might pop up. If your friends ignore the beep, they might miss an urgent warning.
 
It’s also a good idea to chat about how everyone wants to handle alerts, especially during bad weather or risky situations.
 
### Planning Ahead:
 
Having a plan before you go is a big help. Do quick daily check-ins during your trip. Make sure everyone knows where your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick is and how to use it.

If you have any questions or need a hand, just let us know — we’re happy to help.


This article is part of Our Best Advice to new subscribers. Learn about what your adventure buddies need to know

Our Best Advice - What Your Adventure Buddies Need to Know

### How to Start Receiving Our Alerts
 
One common question is how to start getting alerts from us.
 
Once you add your inReach, ZOLEO, or Bivy Stick to your account and finish the activation, it's all set up and ready to go. As soon as your inReach, ZOLEO, or Bivy Stick updates its location, we’ll start sending alerts in your area.
 
***It's that simple!***

### How to Stop Receiving Our Alerts
 
We’ll automatically stop sending alerts if we don’t get a location update from your inReach, ZOLEO, or Bivy Stick for 48 hours.
 
This way, if you setup camp for the night, your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick is unable to update its location or if it's battery has died, you will receive any alert we sent as soon as your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick reconnects to the satellite network.
 
And, if you turn off your device when you get home, alerts will stop after 48 hours without an update to your location.
When Will You Start Getting Alerts Again?
 
As soon as your device sends a new location, whether it's after it’s been dead for a few hours or has been sitting unused for months, we’ll start sending alerts again. You don't have to do anything unless you’ve manually disabled your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick.
 
### Can You Manually Stop or Start Alerts?
 
Yes! If you want to pause alerts, maybe after finishing your trip, just reply to our alerts with ‘Stop' or 'Disable', or use the Adiona Alert dashboard.
 
When you're ready to get alerts again, reply with ‘Start’ or ‘Enable’, or turn it back on from your dashboard.
 
### Not Sure Which Command to Send?
 
If you’re unsure, just reply ‘Help’ to any alert received on your inReach, ZOLEO, or Bivy Stick, and we’ll remind you of the commands.
 
If you have any questions or need a hand, just let us know — we’re happy to help.

This article is part of Our Best Advice to new subscribers. Learn how to start receiving our Alerts

Our Best Advice - How to Start Receiving Our Alerts

### Understanding Severe Weather Watches and Warnings
 
Severe weather watches and warnings are tools used by the National Weather Service and the Meteorological Service of Canada to let us know about potential severe weather events.
 
Sometimes, we might think watches aren’t that important during our adventures. But that’s not true, especially when you're in the backcountry or wilderness!

### Severe Weather Watches
 
A severe weather watch means the conditions are there for bad weather like thunderstorms, tornadoes, or heavy rain. It’s a heads-up so you can prepare, maybe change your plans to stay off exposed ridges and plan for a safe spot to wait it out.
 
### Severe Weather Warnings
 
A warning means severe weather is happening or about to happen. If you get a warning, don’t wait—find shelter immediately and protect yourself and your group.
 
### Making Smart Decisions
 
Getting a watch early in the day gives you a heads-up about possible dangerous weather later on, so you can make some plans and get ready. 
 
Your options are likely far more limited late in the day, as a big storm could catch you off guard. Same goes for flash floods—you might not have time to get to higher ground once the warning hits.
 
Watches and warnings are essential for staying safe in extreme weather, especially in remote areas. Taking them seriously could save your life!

If you have any questions or need a hand, just let us know — we’re happy to help.

This article is part of Our Best Advice to new subscribers. You may think severe weather watches aren’t that important during our adventures. But that’s not true, especially when you're in the backcountry or wilderness!

Our Best Advice - Understanding Severe Weather Watches and Warnings

### Let's talk about your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick battery life.
 
Are you worried about your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick battery running out? Do you turn it off during the day or night to save power?
 
Now that you’re using Adiona Alert, you'll want to keep your device powered up whenever you're out. Your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick isn't just for sending check-ins or triggering an SOS anymore — it's now a proactive safety tool to help keep you safe out there!

### Let's Chat About Location Updates
 
How often your device sends or receives messages—like check-ins or automatic location updates—can affect battery life. The more frequent the updates, the more power your device uses. 
 
But, the more often we get your location, the better our alerts can be. If you're travelling quickly or through many areas, frequent updates are really helpful.
 
We’ve got a [great article](https://adionaalert.com/posts/location-update-frequency) on our website with tips on setting the right update frequency—definitely worth a read.
 
 
### About Keeping Your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick in the Best Spot for Battery Life
 
Your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick needs a clear view of the sky to work well. Try to keep it high up—like on a backpack shoulder strap, your vehicle’s windshield, or a lifejacket. Storing it inside a kayak hatch or a tank bag isn’t ideal and can drain the battery faster.
 
If you’re using a vehicle during your adventures, we have an [excellent article](https://adionaalert.com/posts/where-vehicles) on where to keep your device to get the best signal.
 
At night, keeping your device turned on is a good idea so you don't miss any alerts. Just remember, a clear view of the sky helps extend battery life.
 
Be aware that dense trees or canyons can make connecting to satellites harder, which might drain the battery faster as the device tries to connect.
 
***In short: keep your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick powered and in the open sky during your adventures, whether it's day or night. It could save your life!***
 
Good news—device like the ZOLEO satellite communicator or Garmin inReach Mini 2 now have much longer battery lives than older models.
 
If battery life isn’t a big deal for your trips, or if you’re out in challenging weather, set your device to send updates as often as possible.
 
But if battery life matters, consider bringing a portable charger or solar panel, and adjust how often your device updates based on how risky your adventure is.

If you have any questions or need a hand, just let us know — we’re happy to help.

This article is part of Our Best Advice to new subscribers. Let's talk about your inReach, ZOLEO or Bivy Stick battery life

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Ready to Adventure
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Ready to Adventure.css-vykmad{color:var(--chakra-colors-brand-500);}With Confidence?

News & Articles

Ready to Adventure
With Confidence?