UNDERSTANDING SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS

Typically, hours or possibly even days before severe weather watches and warnings are issued by the National Weather Service, we know of the possible severe weather threat. A stream of weather service products serves to heighten your awareness and alert you to actions you can take as the severe weather threat nears.

First, the Storm Predication Center in Norman, Oklahoma assesses the chance for severe weather on any given day. Eastern Washington or north Idaho may be placed in an area where severe weather is possible. This decision is made several hours before sunrise!

Second, National Weather Service offices prepare a product early in the day that alerts the public to the severe weather threat. This is known as the HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. Updated to the severe weather risk are issued throughout the day.

Third, if a severe weather watch is issued, it is disseminated over NOAA Weather Radio, the Internet, and to the media, while state, county and local officials are notified. The National Weather Sercie offices in the threatened area will already have, or will call in extra personnel to effectively handle the weather situation. All weather information, including that from our Doppler radars, is studied for expected development and movement of severe storms.

Finally, if need be, warnings are issued and disseminated rapidly, using many differenct means of communication. Vital weather information also flows back to the weather service offices from trained weather spotters, which include people in amateur radio networks, law enforcement and public service people, and the general public.

In times of severe weather, you can get all these vital National Weather Service products on NOAA Weather Radio. It is recommended that you buy a weather radio receiver with a built in tone alarm, which is activated by the National Weather Service when watches and warnings are issued. You can also get weather information, based on the National Weather Service products, from your local radio or television stations along with the Internet.

BE WEATHERWISE. 
DO NOT BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD. 
LISTEN FOR AND ACT ON SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS.