Pilot/Controller Glossary
AVIATION WATCH NOTIFICATION MESSAGE
This reproduces published FAA reference text for study. It does not replace the current official FAA publication or regulation.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issues Aviation Watch Notification Messages (SAW) to provide an area threat alert for the aviation meteorology community to forecast organized severe thunderstorms that may produce tornadoes, large hail, and/or convective damaging winds as indicated in Public Watch Notification Messages within the Continental U.S. A SAW message provides a description of the type of watch issued by SPC, a valid time, an approximation of the area in a watch, and primary hazard(s).
Retrieved from ecfr.gov on July 18, 2026.