What Does It Mean?
What is a Severe Thunderstorm Watch?
A severe thunderstorm watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms.. If the thunderstorms are forecast to be such that there is a significant risk that they may produce tornadoes, then a tornado watch is issued. A severe thunderstorm watch can also be upgraded to a tornado watch as conditions warrant (in which case the existing severe thunderstorm watch, or a portion of it, would be replaced). A watch must not be confused with a severe thunderstorm WARNING.
What is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning?
The National Weather Service defines a severe thunderstorm as having large hail of at least 1 inch (2.5 cm), winds of 58 miles per hour (93 km/h) or greater, 1 or more tornadoes (though this would result in a tornado warning), or any combination of the three.
What is a Tornado Watch?
A tornado watch is issued when conditions are right for a tornado to form. Since any thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is defined as severe, a tornado watch is also automatically a severe thunderstorm watch. In most cases, the potential exists for large hail and/or damaging winds in addition to the tornadoes.
A tornado watch must not be confused with a tornado WARNING. A watch does not imply that the severe weather is actually occurring, only that conditions have created a significant risk for it. If severe weather actually does occur, a tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning will be issued.
A tornado watch must not be confused with a tornado WARNING. A watch does not imply that the severe weather is actually occurring, only that conditions have created a significant risk for it. If severe weather actually does occur, a tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning will be issued.
What is a Tornado Warning?
A tornado warning is an alert issued by weather services to warn that severe thunderstorms, with tornadoes, may be imminent. It can be issued after a tornado has been spotted by eye, or more commonly if there are radar indications of tornado formation. When this happens, the tornado sirens may sound in that area, letting people know that a tornado was seen or is forming nearby. Issuance of a tornado warning indicates that residents should take immediate safety precautions. It is a higher level of alert than a tornado watch, but it can be surpassed by an even higher alert known as a tornado emergency.