Google announced a new feature for Google Maps where they overlay public alerts on the map.

So now if there are public alerts, such as weather issues and other issues, Google will overlay them on the map. In addition, you can go to google.org/publicalerts to see any public alert happening now.

Here are some pictures:

Then if you zoom in and mouse over an alert, this is what it looks like:

Clicking on the result will take you to a more detailed page, here is the awesome snow storm hitting Vermont.

The data comes from US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service, and the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Carolyn a Google Guide for Google.Org, said at the Google Maps Forum:

Forum discussion at Google Maps Forum.