Illinois residents facing tornado watch vs warning alerts should know the difference before thunderstorms arrive Tuesday. The National Weather Service says a watch means conditions could produce tornadoes, while a warning means a tornado has been spotted or indicated on radar.
A warning carries imminent danger to life and property, and people in the affected area are told to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building away from windows. During a watch, residents should check emergency plans and supplies and be ready to act quickly if conditions change.
Tuesday And Wednesday Forecast
Severe weather was forecast again for the week beginning with thunderstorms on Tuesday. More severe storms were forecast for Wednesday, with the potential for heavy rain, flooding, hail, wind damage and more tornadoes.
Illinois is in the middle of storm season, and the forecast came after tornadoes ripped through parts of northern Illinois last week. That left weather alerts carrying a sharper edge for people trying to sort out which message requires shelter and which one calls for preparation.
National Weather Service Alerts
The National Weather Service says tornado watches usually cover a larger area, while tornado warnings affect a smaller area. A tornado emergency is a separate alert that should prompt people to seek shelter immediately.
The agency says a tornado emergency is issued only when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. It signals a severe threat to human life and property with catastrophic damage confirmed, and people in the area are instructed to seek refuge in the safest location possible.
Thunderstorm Watch And Warning
There are only two levels of alerts for thunderstorms: a watch and a warning. A thunderstorm warning is the more severe of the two alerts, while a thunderstorm watch means severe storms are possible in the area.
During a thunderstorm watch, residents should stay informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued. The practical test is simple: use the watch to prepare, then treat a warning as the point to shelter without delay.
