When the sky becomes very dark and the wind begins to howl, that’s when you should start paying close attention to those weather alerts. You see, the two most frequent types of alerts are storm advisories and storm watches. But, come on, what is the actual difference between them, you know? So, let’s dive into how weather forecasting operates and why these terms are extremely important for remaining safe out there.
Storm Warning
A Storm Advisory signals that a storm is approaching, and it is very serious, like a big deal for our well-being and things. They generally inform you which type of storm it is, its direction, and how fierce it might become.
Like, if a tornado is coming for a town or something, that’s when the National Weather Service says, ‘Alert’ That’s when you gotta act fast and shelter.
Storm Watch
Now, a Weather Alert is just like, ‘Hey, there’s a chance a storm might come in the next few days. ‘ It’s just a warning to prepare.
A Weather Alert can cover different kinds of storms—thunderclouds, hurricanes, lots of snow, you name it. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s good to have some supplies and tie down your outdoor stuff, just in case.
Thunderstorm Watch
A thunderWeather Alert is just for when we might get some thunderclouds. You gotta keep an eye out for stuff like overcast conditions, lightning, decreased atmospheric pressure. If there’s a watch, remain indoors, away from windows and doors, during the storm.
Tornado Warning vs. Watch
A tornado warning is the biggest deal. It indicates a tornado has been seen on radar or spotted somewhere, and it’s coming our way.
That’s when you’ve got to move fast and go to the lowest floor, find a safe room within. A tornado watch just indicates there could be tornadoes, so you’ve got to be on your toes, ready to move if a warning comes through.
Knowing the difference between warnings and watches is super important for staying safe during a storm. So, here’s a little incident—my local-resident got a tornado warning while they were at a park nearby.
They acted super quick and got to safety before the tornado hit. It really shows how important it is to pay attention to these weather alerts.