What is the difference between a Thunderstorm Watch and a Thunderstorm Warning?
Thunderstorm Watches are issued in a wide area by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK. Special Forecasters there continually watch all sorts of data to see where the next “hot spot” might be. When they determine an area is especially at risk for severe storms, they will issue a watch (watch box) for that area, often covering several hundred square miles. A thunderstorm watch does not mean that severe storms are definite, but you should keep tabs on the weather, because things can change quickly. A Thunderstorm Watch means that conditions in and near the watch area are prone to Severe Thunderstorm development. If a Thunderstorm Watch is issued for your area, you should start thinking about what you severe weather safety plans are, just in case. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued by your local National Weather Service office. They do this when a storm in their County Warning Area (CWA) is doing something severe such as high winds, heavy rain or large hail. Generally speaking,
