What the alerts mean
Short answers to what each Weather Service alert means and what to do when one covers you.
- Tornado warning: what it means and how much time you have: What a tornado warning means, who issues it, what "radar indicated", "observed" and "tornado emergency" mean, and how many minutes of warning people usually get.
- Tornado watch or tornado warning: A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible over a large area for several hours. A tornado warning means one is happening or imminent where you are. What to do for each.
- Severe thunderstorm warning: A severe thunderstorm warning means a storm with hail an inch or larger or wind gusts of 58 mph or more is happening or imminent. What "considerable" and "destructive" mean, and what to do.
- Flash flood warning: A flash flood warning means dangerous flooding is happening or about to happen. Why most flood deaths happen in vehicles, what a flash flood emergency is, and what to do.
- Where to shelter from a tornado: The safest place to shelter from a tornado in a house, an apartment, a large building, a mobile home or a car, from National Weather Service guidance.