Know the types of advisories, watches and warnings issued by the NWS.

Advisories: Advisories are issued when events are expected to remain below the warning criteria, but still cause significant inconvenience. These are most common in association with winter weather events.

Watches: A watch tells you that conditions are favorable and there is a good chance that the event may happen. When a watch is issued, begin making preparations for the upcoming event. Tune in to for more information. Watches are intended to heighten public awareness of the situation.

Types of Watches

Tornado Watch: A Tornado Watch will be issued when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is the sole agency responsible for issuing a watch. A watch covers several thousands of square miles and generally lasts from two to six hours. Keep an eye on the sky for changing conditions and make preparations in case a weather warning is issued.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch will be issued when conditions are favorable for development of severe thunderstorms. While not anticipated, tornadoes may occur in the watch area. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is the sole agency responsible for issuing a watch. A watch covers several thousands of square miles and generally lasts from two to six hours. Keep an eye on the sky for changing conditions and make preparations in case a weather warning is issued.

Flash Flood Watch: A Flash Flood Watch will be issued for serious situations in which life and/or property are in danger. Flash Flood Watches cover flash flooding, widespread urban and small stream, and headwater flood events.

Flood Watch: A Flood Watch will be issued for situations related to widespread general flooding.

High Wind Watch: Issued when wind speeds are forecast to meet warning criteria with in the next 24-36 hours.

River Flood Watch: A River Flood Watch is issued when river flooding is possible at one or more forecast points along a river.

Warnings: A warning means that a certain weather event is IMMINENT. Measures should be taken to safeguard life and property IMMEDIATELY.

Types of Warnings

Tornado Warning: When a Tornado Warning is issued, a tornado has detected by radar or spotted by a trained spotter. There is IMMINENT DANGER for people in the area warned. Issued by a local NWS office, the size of the warning area is generally the size of one or two counties and usually lasts less than an hour.

- Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.

- Put as many walls between you and the tornado as possible on the lowest floor of your building.

- If you do not have a basement, seek shelter in an interior bathroom or closet. Get under something sturdy.

- Protect your head.

- Stay away from mobile homes.

- Get out of your vehicle.

- If there is no safe shelter, lie flat in the nearest ditch or ravine with your hands shielding your head.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: When a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued, tornadoes and/or severe thunderstorms are occurring and have been spotted or detected by radar. The National Weather Service (NWS) defines a severe thunderstorm as having winds 50 knots (58 mph) or hail greater than 1 inch in diameter (about quarter-sized). (A storm that spawns a tornado is obviously also considered severe.) There is imminent danger for people in the area warned.

- Issued by a local NWS office, the size of the warning area is generally the size of one or two counties and usually lasts less than an hour.

- Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.

- Put as many walls between you and the tornado as possible on the lowest floor of your building.

- If you do not have a basement, seek shelter in an interior bathroom or closet.

- Get under something sturdy.

- Protect your head.

- Stay away from mobile homes.

- Get out of your vehicle.

- If there is no safe shelter, lie flat in the nearest ditch or ravine with your hands shielding your head.

Flash Flood Warning: A Flash Flood Warning will be issued in response to a few hours of locally heavy rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or water released from an ice jam rapidly flooding nearby land.

Flood Warning: A Flood Warning will be issued when inundation of a normally dry area near a stream or other watercourse is expected, OR unusually severe ponding of water expected.

High Wind Warning: A High Wind Warning is issued when high wind speeds may pose a hazard or are life threatening. The NWS office in Fort Worth issues a High Wind Warning when sustained wind speeds are expected to exceed 40 mph for 1 hour, or if non-thunderstorm winds will exceed 58 mph for any length of time.

River Flood Warning: A River Flood Warning is issued when river flooding is occurring or imminent at one or more forecast points along a river.