What watches and warnings mean The National Weather Service uses the words "watches" and "warnings" to alert you to potentially dangerous weather. Knowing the difference between the two can be a life saver. Weather watches A watch means conditions are right for dangerous weather. In other words, a "watch" means watch out for what the weather could do, be ready to act. For events that come and go quickly, such as severe thunderstorms, tornadoes or flash floods, a watch means that the odds are good for the dangerous weather, but it's not yet happening.

For longer-lived events, such as hurricanes or winter storms, a watch means that the storm isn't an immediate threat.

For either kind of event, a watch means you should keep up with the weather and be ready to act. When a severe thunderstorm, tornado or flash flood watch is in effect, it means you should watch the sky for signs of dangerous weather. Sometimes a severe thunderstorm, a tornado or a flash flood happens so quickly that warnings can't be issued in time. Many areas don't have civil-defense sirens or other warning methods. People who live near streams that quickly reach flood levels should be ready to flee at the first signs of a flash flood. Hurricane or winter storm watches mean it's time to prepare by stocking up on emergency supplies and making sure you know what to do if a warning is issued. For those who live near the ocean, a hurricane watch may mean it's time to prepare for evacuation. Weather warnings A warning means that the dangerous weather is threatening the area. For severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and flash floods, a warning means the event is occurring. Since tornadoes are small - a half-mile wide tornado is considered huge - a tornado will miss many more buildings that it hits in the area warned. Still, a tornado warning means be ready to take shelter immediately if there are any indications a tornado is approaching. Severe thunderstorms are larger, maybe 10 or 15 miles across. A hurricane warning means either evacuate or move to safe shelter. A winter storm warning means it's not safe to venture out. If traveling, head for the nearest shelter. How alerts are issued Before watches and warnings are issued, the National Weather Service, private forecasters, newspapers, radio and television normally try to alert the public to potential weather dangers. Often, forecasters begin issuing bulletins on hurricanes and winter storms three or four days before the storm hits. But forecasters can't issue alerts for the danger of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and flash floods that far ahead. Usually, the Storm Prediction Center sends out alerts the day before dangerous weather is likely. Most television weathercasters highlight these alerts on the evening news the day before threatening weather. Weather radio A weather radio is one of the best ways to stay tuned-in to dangerous weather. These radios receive broadcasts from the National Weather Service. The broadcasts are from weather service offices. Broadcasts include ordinary forecasts of several kinds, including for boating, farming, traveling and outdoor recreation as well as general forecasts for the area. The stations immediately broadcast all watches and warnings. Some weather radios have a feature that turn on the radio automatically when a watch or warning is broadcast. Such "tone alert" weather radios are highly recommended for places where large numbers of people could be endangered by tornadoes or flash floods. These include schools, nursing homes, shopping center security offices, hospitals, and recreation areas such as swimming pools. This National Weather Service page has information on weather radio, including a list of weather radio stations in each state.