PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
300 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2008

...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS...

...DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A WATCH AND A WARNING...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OR A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT 
OF SEVERE WEATHER. 

SPECIFICALLY...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS FOR LARGE HAIL AND/OR DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS. 
PENNY SIZE OR LARGER HAIL IS CONSIDERED SEVERE AS IS THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER. 

A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE LIKELIHOOD OF LARGE OR MULTIPLE 
TORNADOES. 

AFTER COORDINATING WITH AFFECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES...THE WATCH IS ISSUED BY THE STORM 
PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA. THE TYPICAL SIZE OF A WATCH AREA IS 25000 SQUARE MILES AND USUALLY TAKES THE 
SHAPE OF A FOUR-SIDED POLYGON. THE WATCH TYPICALLY LASTS FOR THREE TO SIX HOURS. WHEN A WATCH IS ISSUED...RESIDENTS 
AND OTHERS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE QUICKLY TO SAFETY WHEN SEVERE 
WEATHER DEVELOPS. 

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES WHEN SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOES ARE IMMINENT...EITHER AS INDICATED BY DOPPLER RADAR OR WHEN REPORTED BY RELIABLE SOURCES 
SUCH AS SKYWARN SPOTTERS. A WARNING USUALLY COVERS ONE COUNTY OR A PORTION OF A COUNTY AND NORMALLY LASTS FOR AN 
HOUR OR LESS. RESIDENTS AND OTHERS ARE URGED TO LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE WARNING AND 
SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. DETAILS SUCH AS WHAT LOCATIONS ARE AT RISK AND PROTECTIVE 
MEASURES TO TAKE ARE ALWAYS MENTIONED IN THE WARNING.

REMEMBER...
IN A WATCH...WATCH THE SKY. IN A WARNING...TAKE ACTION.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER TERMINOLOGY...CALL YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE OR VISIT 
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV ON THE INTERNET.