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watch & warning
UNDERSTANDING
SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS
Typically, hours or possibly even
days before severe weather watches and warnings are issued by the National Weather
Service, we know of the possible severe weather threat. A stream of weather
service products serves to heighten your awareness and alert you to actions
you can take as the severe weather threat nears.
First, the Storm Predication Center
in Norman, Oklahoma assesses the chance for severe weather on any given day.
Eastern Washington or north Idaho may be placed in an area where severe weather
is possible. This decision is made several hours before sunrise!
Second, National Weather
Service offices prepare a product early in the day that alerts the public to
the severe weather threat. This is known as the HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. Updated
to the severe weather risk are issued throughout the day.
Third, if a severe weather watch
is issued, it is disseminated over NOAA Weather Radio, the Internet, and to
the media, while state, county and local officials are notified. The National
Weather Sercie offices in the threatened area will already have, or will call
in extra personnel to effectively handle the weather situation. All weather
information, including that from our Doppler radars, is studied for expected
development and movement of severe storms.
Finally, if need be, warnings are
issued and disseminated rapidly, using many differenct means of communication.
Vital weather information also flows back to the weather service offices from
trained weather spotters, which include people in amateur radio networks, law
enforcement and public service people, and the general public.
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WATCH
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WARNING
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- Issued when conditions
are favorable for development
- Covers large areas with
many counties
- Lasts for several hours
- Continue with normal activities,
but keep in mind on where to go for safety.
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- Issued when conditions
are imminent or occurring
- Covers small areas, down
to individual counties
- Lasts for an hour or less
- Find safe shelter immediately
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In times of severe weather, you can
get all these vital National Weather Service products on NOAA Weather Radio.
It is recommended that you buy a weather radio receiver with a built in tone
alarm, which is activated by the National Weather Service when watches and warnings
are issued. You can also get weather information, based on the National Weather
Service products, from your local radio or television stations along with the
Internet.
BE WEATHERWISE.
DO NOT BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
LISTEN FOR AND ACT ON SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS.
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www.weather.gov 
