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 4 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 THEM ON THE INTERNET AT
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/.
