As news of severe weather begin to be a common part of our Spring, it is a good time to review the definitions of the alerts that the weather service provides as threatening weather approaches.
The basic differences of a watch and warning are that a Watch means to “Be Prepared” and a Warning is to “Take Action!”. There are many times that I hear people discuss a “warning” when it is simply a “watch”, so the distinction of the two is very important.
If I hear that my area is under a “Watch” for a certain type of weather, the first thing that I do is to turn on the radio or check the National Weather Service page or local media outlet and get a brief understanding of the weather. I look for things like the timing of the storm and the expected effects of the storm. The, I take a minute to follow the instructions that have been suggested; I pull the balls out of the yard, I move the lawn furniture in, and pull the flags inside. Many times, even if the weather does not turn severe, there are still minor wind damage that can be prevented from these little steps.
If I hear that my area is under a “Warning” for a certain type of weather, I immediately consult the Weather Radio and National Weather Service and local media websites. Then. I listen and take their advice. It is important that I help my family to be safe and that I do not add to the burden of a potential disaster by not being prepared.
Knowing the difference between a watch and warning is an important part of staying safe in the Springtime. Take a moment today to familiarize yourself with the National Weather Service and your local media websites so that you will know where to get the right information in case of an emergency. And, if you haven’t already, pick up a weather radio and take time to set it up properly.
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Graphic from The National Weather Service
This post is a part of my participation in the Weather Ready Ambassador Program. For more information, see the National Weather Service Weather Ready Nation Website.