What is the difference between a tornado warning,and a tornado watch?

Question

What is the difference between a tornado warning,and a tornado watch?

Answer 1

If I recall correctly, a tornado watch means that conditions are right for a tornado to form, while a tornado warning means that one has actually been spotted.

Answer 2

A watch means the weather conditions are such that a tornado could develop - with a tornado warning - an actual tornado has been sighted, or has touched down in your area.

Answer 3

Tornado warning, a tornado has been sighted in the area, tornado watch, all conditions for a tornado are present but no tornado has beed sighted as yet.

Answer 4

A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for producing a particular weather event, but that it has not formed yet. Watches alert the public that they need to pay closer attention than usual to the weather, just to be safe. A tornado watch is issued when atmospheric conditions could cause tornadoes to form, although none have formed yet.

A tornado warning means that a particular weather event has formed and that it threatens the area under the warning. A tornado warning means that a tornado is actually present and moving in the warn vicinity. Residents should take immediate shelter in a tornado warning.

Answer 5

This is the time right now to plan what to do for a tornado and make sure you have a NOAA weather alert radio The radios can alert you when a tornado warning is issued at night while sleeping.

A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop and you should pay close attention to the weather. A watch it typically issued with in 2-3 hours of the event.

When a tornado warning is issued that means doppler radar has detected rotation in a storm or trained spotters have spotted a rotating wall cloud, funnel cloud, or a tornado on the ground.

If a tornado warning is issued for your area, do not panic. Go to a place of safety. Go to the lowest floor of your house like the basement. Once in the basement get under a sturdy piece of furniture or go into a bathroom in the basement. If no basement is available go in to an interior room such as a closet. If that is not available go in to an bathroom without windows. Stay away from outside walls and windows. Cover your head to protect from flying debris. Never try to out run a tornado in a car, if cought in a car and can not take no place of safety, lay down in a ditch and cover your head. Do not take cover under a over pass. Do not stay in mobile homes as they do not offer protection and can be flown as easily as cars can.

For local weather info. From the National Weather Service.

http://www.nws.noaa.gov

Storm Prediction center (responsible for issuing severe thunderstorm and tornado watches)

http://www.spc.noaa.gov