diff --git a/_includes/nav-components.html b/_includes/nav-components.html
index a1105cddae..8a40b1f35b 100644
--- a/_includes/nav-components.html
+++ b/_includes/nav-components.html
@@ -93,8 +93,7 @@
 <li>
   <a href="#alerts">Alerts</a>
   <ul class="nav">
-    <li><a href="#alerts-default">Default alert</a></li>
-    <li><a href="#alerts-alternatives">Contextual alternatives</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#alerts-examples">Examples</a></li>
     <li><a href="#alerts-dismissable">Dismissable alerts</a></li>
     <li><a href="#alerts-links">Links in alerts</a></li>
   </ul>
diff --git a/components.html b/components.html
index 7475fa1086..a780337724 100644
--- a/components.html
+++ b/components.html
@@ -2206,22 +2206,14 @@ body { padding-bottom: 70px; }
     </div>
     <p class="lead">Provide contextual feedback messages for typical user actions with the handful of available and flexible alert messages. For inline dismissal, use the <a href="../javascript/#js-alerts">alerts jQuery plugin</a>.</p>
 
-    <h2 id="alerts-default">Default alert</h2>
-    <p>Wrap any text and an optional dismiss button in <code>.alert</code> for a basic warning alert message.</p>
+    <h2 id="alerts-examples">Examples</h2>
+    <p>Wrap any text and an optional dismiss button in <code>.alert</code> and one of the four contextual classes (e.g., <code>.alert-success</code>) for basic alert messages.</p>
 
-    <div class="bs-example">
-      <div class="alert">
-        <strong>Warning!</strong> Best check yo self, you're not looking too good.
-      </div>
+    <div class="bs-callout bs-callout-info">
+      <h4>No default class</h4>
+      <p>Alerts don't have default classes, only base and modifier classes. A default gray alert doesn't make too much sense, so you're required to specify a type via contextual class. Choose from success, info, warning, or danger.</p>
     </div>
-{% highlight html %}
-<div class="alert">
-  <strong>Warning!</strong> Best check yo self, you're not looking too good.
-</div>
-{% endhighlight %}
 
-    <h2 id="alerts-alternatives">Contextual alternatives</h2>
-    <p>Add optional classes to change an alert's connotation.</p>
     <div class="bs-example">
       <div class="alert alert-success">
         <strong>Well done!</strong> You successfully read this important alert message.
@@ -2229,6 +2221,9 @@ body { padding-bottom: 70px; }
       <div class="alert alert-info">
         <strong>Heads up!</strong> This alert needs your attention, but it's not super important.
       </div>
+      <div class="alert alert-warning">
+        <strong>Warning!</strong> Best check yo self, you're not looking too good.
+      </div>
       <div class="alert alert-danger">
         <strong>Oh snap!</strong> Change a few things up and try submitting again.
       </div>
@@ -2236,6 +2231,7 @@ body { padding-bottom: 70px; }
 {% highlight html %}
 <div class="alert alert-success">...</div>
 <div class="alert alert-info">...</div>
+<div class="alert alert-warning">...</div>
 <div class="alert alert-danger">...</div>
 {% endhighlight %}
 
diff --git a/javascript.html b/javascript.html
index 9e85c77420..40c04f58bb 100644
--- a/javascript.html
+++ b/javascript.html
@@ -1184,7 +1184,7 @@ $('#myPopover').on('hidden.bs.popover', function () {
     <h2 id="alerts-examples">Example alerts</h2>
     <p>Add dismiss functionality to all alert messages with this plugin.</p>
     <div class="bs-example">
-      <div class="alert fade in">
+      <div class="alert alert-warning fade in">
         <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="alert" aria-hidden="true">&times;</button>
         <strong>Holy guacamole!</strong> Best check yo self, you're not looking too good.
       </div>
diff --git a/less/alerts.less b/less/alerts.less
index 3ba463dba0..be09d18d0a 100644
--- a/less/alerts.less
+++ b/less/alerts.less
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@
 .alert {
   padding: @alert-padding;
   margin-bottom: @line-height-computed;
-  color: @alert-text;
-  background-color: @alert-bg;
-  border: 1px solid @alert-border;
+  border: 1px solid transparent;
   border-radius: @alert-border-radius;
 
   // Headings for larger alerts
@@ -20,14 +18,9 @@
     // Specified for the h4 to prevent conflicts of changing @headingsColor
     color: inherit;
   }
-  // Match the hr to the border of the alert
-  hr {
-    border-top-color: darken(@alert-border, 5%);
-  }
   // Provide class for links that match alerts
   .alert-link {
     font-weight: @alert-link-font-weight;
-    color: darken(@alert-text, 10%);
   }
 
   // Improve alignment and spacing of inner content
@@ -63,9 +56,12 @@
 .alert-success {
   .alert-variant(@alert-success-bg; @alert-success-border; @alert-success-text);
 }
-.alert-danger {
-  .alert-variant(@alert-danger-bg; @alert-danger-border; @alert-danger-text);
-}
 .alert-info {
   .alert-variant(@alert-info-bg; @alert-info-border; @alert-info-text);
 }
+.alert-warning {
+  .alert-variant(@alert-warning-bg; @alert-warning-border; @alert-warning-text);
+}
+.alert-danger {
+  .alert-variant(@alert-danger-bg; @alert-danger-border; @alert-danger-text);
+}
diff --git a/less/variables.less b/less/variables.less
index 53aad251be..f2274b7f1e 100644
--- a/less/variables.less
+++ b/less/variables.less
@@ -439,22 +439,22 @@
 @alert-border-radius:         @border-radius-base;
 @alert-link-font-weight:      bold;
 
-@alert-bg:                    @state-warning-bg;
-@alert-text:                  @state-warning-text;
-@alert-border:                @state-warning-border;
-
 @alert-success-bg:            @state-success-bg;
 @alert-success-text:          @state-success-text;
 @alert-success-border:        @state-success-border;
 
-@alert-danger-bg:             @state-danger-bg;
-@alert-danger-text:           @state-danger-text;
-@alert-danger-border:         @state-danger-border;
-
 @alert-info-bg:               @state-info-bg;
 @alert-info-text:             @state-info-text;
 @alert-info-border:           @state-info-border;
 
+@alert-warning-bg:            @state-warning-bg;
+@alert-warning-text:          @state-warning-text;
+@alert-warning-border:        @state-warning-border;
+
+@alert-danger-bg:             @state-danger-bg;
+@alert-danger-text:           @state-danger-text;
+@alert-danger-border:         @state-danger-border;
+
 
 // Progress bars
 // -------------------------