Apple Severe Alert

The UK government has just tested its “Severe Alert System,” which comprised a siren and a few popup notifications on everyone’s phones and some watches, like my Apple Watch.

The system is being downplayed and loosely suggested that it might be employed if one of your neighbours has lost a cat or if someone’s tile has fallen off the roof in an adjacent street. The latter is the definition of a hurricane in the UK.

Of course, the most likely reason is that UK PLC is more concerned about Mr Putin hoiking nuclear missiles across various parts of Europe.

Happy days.

As we say here, “Keep calm and carry on” and above all “Don’t panic.”

I was a little intrigued by how the alert appeared on my Apple Watch as it wasn’t connected to the iPhone at the time. I guess the signal must have come somehow via WiFi as well as by cell for other people.

Last Updated on 27 January 2026 by the5krunner

the5krunner

tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors.