What’s the Difference Between a Weather Watch and a Warning?

It happens all the time. The National Weather Service issues a storm watch - or, a storm warning.

Do you know the difference?

I have the answer!

A Storm Watch --- like a Winter Storm Watch, a Flood Watch, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, a Blizzard Watch, a Flood Watch, a Tornado Watch - means conditions are favorable for the mentioned kind of storm to occur. It doesn't mean that it will happen....it just means that it very well could happen.

A Storm Warning means that such a storm is imminent.  For example, in a Tornado Warning, a funnel cloud has already been spotted in the area.

Another way to think about it is in these terms:

A watch means a storm might happen while a warning means it probably will happen - or it is happening right now.