Spencer, IA (KICD)—Tuesday marks day two of Severe Weather Awareness in Iowa for 2023 with the focus turning watches and warnings.

While the process of severe weather for many starts with receiving and understanding alert information, professionals within the National Weather Service are working to improve the warnings themselves.

Pam Heinselman from the NSSL tells KICD News the Warn-On Forecast System has been undergoing field testing of sorts since 2017 and ultimately aims to give the public more time react in any number of situations.

To date, the Warn-On Forecast system has been used by the National Weather Service to notify those in the path of potential storms as much as 90 or more minutes before a tornado even touches down.

When it comes to weather information, it is imperative that everyone have multiple ways to receive warnings including local media, phone apps and for those middle of the night alerts, a NOAA weather radio.