KinwarnTornado watch vs. warning: what's the difference?
A tornado watch means the weather could produce tornadoes in and near a large area over the next several hours, so get ready. A tornado warning means a tornado has been seen or shown on radar near you, so take shelter right away.
Tornado watches and tornado warnings sound alike, but they ask you to do different things. A watch means get ready. A warning means take shelter now. Knowing which one you are under helps you use the time you have.
The short version
| Tornado watch | Tornado warning | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | Tornadoes are possible in and near the area | A tornado has been seen or shown on radar |
| Who issues it | Storm Prediction Center (SPC) | Your local NWS office |
| Area covered | Large: many counties, sometimes whole states | Small: about a city or small county |
| How long it lasts | Usually several hours | Typically about 30 minutes |
| What to do | Get ready | Take shelter now |
What a tornado watch means
A tornado watch means the weather is set up for tornadoes in and near the watch area. It does not mean a tornado is on the ground, and it does not promise that severe weather will happen. It is a heads-up.
Watches come from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. The SPC drafts a watch after talking with the local NWS offices involved, and those offices fine-tune which counties are included. A typical watch covers about 25,000 square miles, roughly half the size of Iowa. Most last 4 to 8 hours.
What to do during a tornado watch:
- Review your plan and where each person in your home will shelter.
- Check your emergency supplies and your safe spot.
- Keep a way to get warnings close by, such as a phone with alerts turned on or a NOAA Weather Radio.
- Be ready to move fast if a warning is issued or a tornado seems to be coming.
If a watch is near you but does not include your county, stay alert anyway. Storms do not always stay inside the lines drawn around them.
What a tornado warning means
A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or weather radar shows one. Your local NWS office issues it, based on radar or on reports from trained spotters or law enforcement. It means there is danger to life and property right now.
Warnings cover a much smaller area than watches, about the size of a city or small county. A typical warning lasts about 30 minutes. A warning can be issued even when no watch is in effect, so never ignore one just because you did not hear about a watch first.
A warning does not mean every place inside it will be hit. Even when a tornado forms, it usually affects only a small part of the warned area. Still, the NWS asks everyone inside a warning to take action right away.
What to do during a tornado warning:
- Go to a small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
- If you are in a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, get to the nearest sturdy shelter.
- Protect yourself from flying debris, especially your head.
For advice by type of building, see where to shelter during a tornado.
When a warning carries stronger words
Some tornado warnings end with a damage threat tag. A considerable tag, also called a Particularly Dangerous Situation, is used in rare cases when a strong tornado is on the ground. A catastrophic tag turns the warning into a tornado emergency, the most serious tornado alert the NWS issues. It is used only in exceedingly rare cases when a violent tornado is underway. Learn more in what is a tornado emergency.
Every tornado warning, with or without a tag, triggers Wireless Emergency Alerts on phones in the warned area.
Why the difference matters for families
A watch gives you time. It is a good moment to check in with an older parent or relative, remind them where they will go, and make sure they have a way to hear a warning. Once a warning is issued, the time is short, and the only goal is getting to shelter. A family plan made before storm season makes both steps easier. See how to make a severe weather plan for family.
See current warnings on the live tornado warning map.