A watch is usually issued for large areas involving many counties. It heightens your awareness of the possibility of severe weather or flooding in the next several hours. If you are in the area covered by a watch, continue with your normal activities, but at the same time plan out in your mind where you would go for shelter if severe weather were to strike suddenly. If high winds are a primary threat, tying down or bringing loose objects indoors is a good idea. A severe weather warning is an urgent message to tell you that severe weather or flooding is imminent or is occurring.
Warnings are usually for small areas, part of a county, or a county or two at a time.
A severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is usually in effect for 30 minutes to one hour, while a flash flood warning may be in effect for several hours. Your immediate action is necessary if you are in the path of the storm or flash flooding. In times of severe weather, you can get all these vital National Weather Service products on NOAA Weather Radio . It is recommended that you buy a weather radio receiver with a built in tone alarm, which is activated by the National Weather Service when watches and warnings are issued. You can also get weather information, based on National Weather Service products, from your local radio or television stations.