Severe Weather Awareness Week: Watch vs. Warning

The first week of March typically kicks off Severe Weather Awareness Week across the country, especially in areas that experience extreme weather. This week is used to keep you up to speed about nomenclature that will be used if a severe weather outbreak is imminent, plus tips to keep you as safe as possible.

Know this: The heart of severe weather season here in the Brazos Valley occurs from Mid-March to the beginning of May. However, as we know, severe weather can happen any time of the year.

Staying abreast with changing weather conditions helps you plan properly to keep you and your family as safe as possible. Severe weather can pop up quickly and storms can take a turn for the worse in a matter of minutes. Therefore, knowing two key words will help you stay informed: Watch and Warning.

Watches and Warnings are two different beasts, but work together well when severe weather is forecasted.

WATCH:

There are two different types of watches: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch and a Tornado Watch. Watches are outlined for large areas, sometimes thousands of square miles, indicating that the weather conditions are favorable for producing severe thunderstorms, or storms producing tornadoes. This does not mean a severe thunderstorm is occurring, but rather as a way to heighten your awareness that rough weather might come soon.

Below is an example of a Tornado Watch Box, that outlines an area where tornadic storms are possible.

www.weathercall.net

These boxes are issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman Oklahoma. No only is there an area depicted within this box, but a description for the length of time this watch will be in effect.


WARNING:

In the event a thunderstorm turns severe, a warning will be issued for an individual storm. Your local National Weather Service (NWS) will place specific locations in the path of a storm under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning or a Tornado Warning, depending on the threat.

Below is an example of a Tornado Warning "polygon":

www.vastormphoto.com

On the left hand side is a doppler radar image with a red tornado warning polygon superimposed drawing interest to the most dangerous part of the thunderstorm is with a possible tornado. The right hand side illustrates what cities/towns/roads are in the path of this storm.

A severe thunderstorm warning will be issued under these criteria:

- A storm creating winds over 58mph.
- Hail greater than or equal to one inch in diameter.

If a tornado is indicated by doppler radar or from a storm spotter, a tornado warning will be issued.

Now you know the two most used terms during severe weather. I hope this helps you make proper decisions when storms strike.

Severe weather should be taken seriously, and KAGS-HD will make sure you are informed with the latest on-air, online and on your mobile device.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/plushnickweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.