What is the difference between a thunderstorm watch and warning?

Question

What is the difference between a thunderstorm watch and warning?

Answer 1

A watch means conditions are favorable for severe storms a warning means there's a severe storm on the way. Also warnings typically cover a smaller area and last a shorter time than watches

Answer 2

A watch tells you that the potential for severe weather exists in your geographic area.  A warning tells you that thunderstorms have been spotted in your area.  The weather service depends on volunteer weather spotters to help them keep track of local weather events that weather radar can easily miss.  Many such spotters are ham radio operators who, when a warning is issued, join together to form a network of spotters which then forwards any reports of locally severe weather - such as hail or severe wind - to the regional office of the weather service.  We call such events a "Skywarn net"...

Answer 3

watch means one is likely but warning means one is coming your way

Answer 4

A watch means that conditions are favorable for development, and a warning means that the conditions are imminent (already existing and heading your way).

This goes for ANY watches/warnings.

Answer 5

By definition, a watch means that conditions are favorable for a severe thunderstorm to form (BUT...it hasn't yet).

A warning means that one has been identified by professional spotters (or radar, etc) and is now formed.