Tornado Watch vs. Tornado Warning: What's the Difference and Why Does It Matter?
The difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning could save your life
Jun. 25 2024, Updated 9:53 a.m. ET
One of the many important facets of living in a world increasingly impacted by the climate crisis is paying attention to your weather alerts. It's essential to be aware of your surroundings, especially if you live in a state where natural disasters are more common such as tornadoes or hurricanes.
What is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning? As tornadoes have been reported in all 50 states, you never know when an alert will come in handy. Keep reading for everything you need to know.
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What is the difference between a tornado watch vs a tornado warning?
The difference between a tornado watch and a warning comes down to whether you are in immediate danger of a tornado. According to CNN, a tornado watch means "conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop," but there is no tornado.
That's not to say one should ignore a tornado watch. According to USA Today, tornado watches are often issued at least one hour but up to eight hours in advance so people can make a plan to act.
A tornado warning, however, means a tornado has already been spotted or already in progress, per FEMA. Typically this alert is a call to action from the National Weather Service, and signals that anyone in the immediate area should seek shelter until the tornado has passed.
![Photograph of a tornado landing with a bolt of lightning.](https://media.greenmatters.com/brand-img/zA77GA7vz/480x252/tornado-touching-down-lightning-1686937743735.jpg 480w, https://media.greenmatters.com/brand-img/zA77GA7vz/640x335/tornado-touching-down-lightning-1686937743735.jpg 640w, https://media.greenmatters.com/brand-img/zA77GA7vz/768x402/tornado-touching-down-lightning-1686937743735.jpg 768w, https://media.greenmatters.com/brand-img/zA77GA7vz/1024x536/tornado-touching-down-lightning-1686937743735.jpg 1024w, https://media.greenmatters.com/brand-img/zA77GA7vz/1280x670/tornado-touching-down-lightning-1686937743735.jpg 1280w, https://media.greenmatters.com/brand-img/zA77GA7vz/1440x754/tornado-touching-down-lightning-1686937743735.jpg 1440w, https://media.greenmatters.com/brand-img/zA77GA7vz/1600x838/tornado-touching-down-lightning-1686937743735.jpg 1600w, https://media.greenmatters.com/brand-img/zA77GA7vz/2160x1131/tornado-touching-down-lightning-1686937743735.jpg 2160w)
Another alert one can receive is a tornado emergency.
In addition to a tornado watch and a tornado warning, there is also a tornado emergency, described by the National Weather Service as "An exceedingly rare tornado warning issued when there is a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from an imminent or ongoing tornado."
The first tornado emergency was issued in 1999 in Oklahoma, according to AccuWeather. A tornado had developed and was headed for the metro area, but meteorologists needed to find a way to warn citizens of the danger that was coming. A regular tornado warning would not suffice, so the tornado emergency was born!
Here's what to do in the event of a tornado.
If you suspect a tornado is headed your way or you have received an alert, these steps are essential to protect yourself and your loved ones during a tornado, as advised by the CDC.
- Create an emergency kit filled with fresh water, cash, charging devices, non-perishable food, medication, and batteries for a portable radio to listen to weather broadcasts.
- Find a good place to shelter. Ideally, this would mean a room without windows on the lowest possible floor of a building, such as a basement.
- Stay aware of other weather conditions.
This article, originally published on June 16, 2023, has been updated.