Difference between tornado watch and tornado warning: watch means possible
The difference between tornado watch and tornado warning is how urgent the threat is. A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in and near the area, while a tornado warning means one has been seen or detected by radar. A watch calls for readiness; a warning calls for immediate action to protect yourself.
Why it's in the news
A tornado watch covered several Oklahoma counties Monday evening, until 10:00 p.m., as storms moved east. Local stations also reported a tornado threat in eastern Oklahoma and a tornado warning in Washington County that was later cancelled.
- Tornado Warning — Tornado watch issued for Oklahoma counties as storms move east
Background
Oklahoma's latest example came Monday evening, when a tornado watch was issued for several Oklahoma counties and stayed in effect until 10:00 p.m. Local stations also reported severe thunderstorms and a tornado threat moving into eastern Oklahoma, and a tornado warning in Washington County was later cancelled.
A watch is issued over a broad region for a set period of hours, so it covers an area rather than a single town. A warning is narrower and shorter-lived, and it is the signal to take shelter now. A cancelled warning means the threat in that spot was no longer expected, as the Washington County case showed.
What people are asking
Is a tornado watch the same as a tornado warning?
No. A watch means conditions favor tornadoes in and near the area. A warning means a tornado has been seen or indicated by radar, so people in its path should act at once.
What is a tornado warning?
A tornado warning means one has been seen or detected by radar. It is the stronger alert and calls for immediate action.