In Ford County, Kansas on May 24, 2016, a tornado alert was issued as a funnel cloud was sighted moving across the field near Dodge City in Ford County, Kansas. While severe weather events in the United States are most common between March and October, it’s crucial to be vigilant as severe weather can strike at any time.
Given the destructive and life-threatening potential of tornadoes, understanding the critical disparity between a tornado watch and a tornado warning when an alert is broadcasted on your phone or television is paramount. This knowledge could be the deciding factor between life and death.
Tornado Watches: Be Prepared! Tornado watches are typically issued for expansive areas where weather conditions are ripe for tornado formation. Normally announced a few hours in advance of an impending severe storm, tornado watches serve to alert the public of an increasing threat of tornadoes and emphasize the need to be prepared and maintain vigilance in case immediate action is required.
Tornado Warnings: Take Action! Tornado warnings are urgent notifications indicating imminent danger to life and property, signaling the need for immediate shelter. These warnings are issued when a tornado has been sighted, detected by weather radar, or is on the brink of touchdown. Seek refuge in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, avoiding windows. If you are in a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, move to the nearest substantial shelter and shield yourself from potential flying debris.
Understanding the distinction between tornado watches and warnings equips individuals with the necessary information to take appropriate measures when facing the looming threat of severe weather following the issuance of a watch or warning.
Tornado watches are disseminated by the NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC). These watches typically encompass around 25,000 square miles, approximately half the size of Iowa, as per the SPC. “A watch is issued when conditions are conducive, such as for a severe thunderstorm or tornadoes,” elucidated AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski. “It doesn’t imply that severe weather is imminent.”
Kottlowski further articulated that there are no strict criteria for issuing watches; they can be adapted based on evolving weather patterns. “There is no definitive set of prerequisites; each watch may have distinct parameters depending on the day, as it is contingent on a synoptic situation that can change within a few hours.”
Tornado warnings are issued by local National Weather Service (NWS) offices, predicated on specific criteria and incoming reports. Criteria for a severe thunderstorm warning encompass hail exceeding 1 inch in diameter and wind speeds of 55 mph. “Lightning and heavy rain are not factors for a severe thunderstorm warning,” clarified Kottlowski. “Warnings are issued as meteorologists track the weather via radar, pinpointing areas prone to significant damage.”
