Severe Weather Awareness Week Kicks Off: Know the Difference Between Watches and Warnings

(KNSI) — There may be some stray snow piles here and there, but Monday marks the start of Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Today’s focus is understanding the difference between watches and warnings. National Weather Service Warning Coordinator Todd Krause explains that watches are issued “when the ingredients are there for the potential of tornadoes or severe weather. So, it doesn’t mean that you’ve got severe storms, it just means that conditions are possible for developing severe weather. If those conditions come together, then we’ll issue warnings.”

A warning is issued when severe weather is happening or is imminent. Warning parameters are winds over 58 miles an hour, hail quarter size or larger, tornadoes, or flash flooding. The information helps counties and cities decide whether to activate their outdoor warning sirens.

Krause’s best advice is to pay attention to the forecast. “Knowing that there may be severe weather later in the day is half the battle because you’re more prepared to react if and when there are warnings. And we recommend having at least two, maybe even three ways of getting warnings.”

He says to rely on something other than the sirens. The best first alert systems are weather radios, local radio, TV, and email and text alerts.

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