Tornado Watch
A tornado watch means atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in your area. It does not mean a tornado has been seen or detected — it means the ingredients are in place (instability, wind shear, moisture) and you should be prepared to act.
Tornado watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma and typically cover large areas — sometimes multiple states — for several hours at a time.
What to do during a tornado watch:
Stay informed
Make sure your phone notifications are on. Keep an eye on radar. Know where your shelter is.
Prepare
Charge your phone. Know your safe room. Bring pets inside. Have shoes nearby in case you need to move through debris.
Watch the sky
If you see a rotating wall cloud, large hail, or a greenish sky, take shelter immediately — don't wait for a warning.
Tornado Warning
A tornado warning means a tornado has been detected on radar or spotted by a trained storm spotter. This is an immediate threat to life and property. Take shelter now.
Tornado warnings are issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office and cover specific counties or portions of counties, usually for 30–60 minutes.
What to do during a tornado warning:
Take shelter immediately
Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Interior room, away from windows. Bathroom, closet, or hallway on the ground floor.
If driving
Do not try to outrun a tornado. Pull over, get out, and lie flat in the nearest ditch or low area, covering your head. Never shelter under an overpass.
Stay sheltered
Wait for the warning to expire or for the NWS to issue an all-clear. Keep monitoring weather radio or your phone for updates.
Tornado Emergency
A tornado emergency is the highest level of tornado alert the NWS issues. It means a large, violent, confirmed tornado is heading toward a populated area with a serious threat to human life. These are rare and extremely dangerous.
If you hear "tornado emergency," treat it as the most urgent possible warning. You may have only minutes.
Quick Comparison
Watch = Be Prepared
Conditions are favorable. Tornadoes are possible. Stay alert, have a plan, keep your phone charged.
Warning = Take Action Now
A tornado has been detected or spotted. Move to shelter immediately. Protect your head and neck.
Emergency = Life-Threatening
A confirmed violent tornado is bearing down on a populated area. Seek the best available shelter immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tornado warning be issued without a watch first?
Yes. A storm can rapidly develop rotation and trigger a warning even outside an active watch area, especially with fast-forming storms the Storm Prediction Center's earlier outlook didn't fully anticipate.
What does "Tornado Emergency" mean?
It's the most urgent tier, reserved for confirmed, large, violent tornadoes posing a catastrophic and imminent threat to a populated area — a rare escalation used only when the situation is exceptionally dangerous.
Do sirens mean the same thing as a warning?
Outdoor warning sirens are typically triggered by local emergency management in response to a warning, but siren policy varies by county — some sound for the whole county on any warning, others only for confirmed tornadoes. Never rely on sirens alone, especially indoors, since they're designed to be heard outside.
How accurate are tornado warnings?
The majority of tornado warnings do not end up with a confirmed tornado touching down, since warnings are issued based on radar-indicated rotation and the possibility of a tornado, not certainty. That tradeoff favors giving people time to act over waiting for confirmation.
How to Get Tornado Alerts on Your Phone
StormCast pushes tornado warnings, watches, and emergencies directly to your Android phone. Alerts can bypass silent mode so you never sleep through a warning.
The app also shows active alert polygons on live radar so you can see exactly where the warning is and whether the storm is heading your way.
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A note on this guide: This is general safety information, not medical or professional emergency advice, and specific criteria can vary by region. In an actual emergency, call 911 and follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service.