Tornado watch vs warning: which is worse?

NATURAL disasters are recurring weather events that cause great damage and even the possibility of loss of life.

When it comes to being prepared for a tornado, it's good to know what to look out for.

Tornado watch vs warning: which is worse?

A tornado watch is typically issued hours in advance of an actual tornado.

It means that weather conditions are favorable for a tornado to form, but one hasn't been spotted yet.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center issues a tornado watch during times when the weather conditions show a possibility of severe weather.

A tornado watch can cover part of a state or several states, depending on the severity of the weather.

One should be prepared to act while a watch is in progress, but it doesn't always mean severe weather is coming.

A tornado warning is issued by local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office meteorologists in an area where a tornado has been spotted.

Tornado warnings cover smaller areas, as they are only implemented in the actual case of severe weather.

A tornado warning indicates serious danger for those who are in the path of the said tornado.

When one is made aware of a tornado warning, one should seek shelter immediately.

A tornado warning is more serious as it signals that a tornado is already present.

When a tornado warning is issued one should consider it to be worse than a tornado watch because it means the danger of a tornado is already present.

What is a tornado?

Tornadoes are narrow funnels of wind that form from a thunderstorm and touch the ground.

They are known to be incredibly violent rotating columns of air and can be especially dangerous due to the lack of visibility of wind.

When a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris are formed, a tornado becomes visible to the human eye.

Tornadoes occur in most areas of the world, with around 1200 in the US each year.