LUBBOCK, TX (KLBK) – KLBK Chief Meteorologist Jacob Riley explains the difference in a watch vs. a warning in a creative way that you won’t soon forget.
During severe weather season, two of the main types of alerts that we see are for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
As we head into this new season, it is crucial to know the difference between severe weather watches and severe weather warnings.
The different terminology used to separate watches and warnings can be difficult to understand at times. So we’re going to break it down into a form that everyone can understand. Tacos!
So instead of a severe thunderstorm watch or tornado watch, let’s talk about a taco watch! During a taco watch, we have all of the necessary ingredients to make a taco, but we just haven’t made it yet. Similarly with a tornado or severe thunderstorm watch, we have all the necessary ingredients available in our atmosphere for these types of storms to develop, but they just haven’t done so yet!
With a taco warning, we have our flour or corn tortillas. We’ve loaded them up with meat and all of the fixings, and we now have a taco! When tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings are issued, all of the available ingredients in the atmosphere have come together and created ongoing severe weather!
So, just to recap; during a tornado or severe thunderstorm watch, severe weather has not been reported or indicated just yet. Once a watch is issued, it is time to start going over your severe weather safety plan with all members of your residence. Once a watch is issued, you should start to closely monitor weather conditions for your location.
Watches typically last much longer than warnings do, remaining in effect for several hours. Watches cover much larger areas, and are often issued with several hours of advance notice. A good time to look over your severe weather safety plan is when a watch is issued. You do not need to seek shelter when just a watch is issued, but you should continue to monitor weather conditions so that you know when it’s time to head to your safe place.
When a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning is issued, it is time to take action. Warnings are shorter in duration, typically lasting anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes. Warnings cover smaller geographical areas, typically just portions of counties. Compared to watches, warnings are issued with much less lead time. Most warnings provide 10-20 minutes of advance notice of impending severe weather.
During a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning, severe weather has been reported or a tornado has been spotted. This is the time to put your severe weather safety plan into action, and head to your safe place! Continue to keep tabs of ongoing weather conditions from your safe place by either following along with updates on your phone, or by turning your TV volume all of the way up so you can hear it in your safe place.
Be sure to tune into KLBK News at 10 PM for the remainder of the week for the rest of our 2024 Severe Weather Preparedness Week segments! Tuesday night, we’ll be discussing damaging winds and tornadoes.
-Jacob
Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Jacob Riley
X: @jrileywx
