Being able to distinguish between these two threat levels could back up your life.
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Key Takeaways
Tornado season is stressful enough without adding confusing terminology to the mix.
Fortunately, those words popping up on yourlocal weather stationarent as complicated as they might seem.
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Weather expertsuse two terms most often to categorize tornado threats: watch and warning.
They sound similar, but they actually mean very different things.
Being able to distinguish between them could store your life this tornado season.
Download a weather app on your phone to receive emergency weather alerts and notifications specific to your location.
Tornado watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) for counties where tornadoesmayoccur.
Residents of these counties should be prepared for a potential tornado.
A tornado watch means that tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area.
The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.
What Should I Do When A Tornado Watch Is Issued?
Tornado Warning
What Is A Tornado Warning?
Issued by the nearest National Weather Service office, a tornado warning is more urgent.
These mean that atornadohas been sighted and there is imminent danger to life and property.
What Should I Do When A Tornado Warning Is Issued?
Seek shelter immediately if you receive this alert.
