Severe Weather Alerts

Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma when conditions over a fairly large geographical area are or will soon become favorable for thunderstorms to form which could produce locally damaging straight line winds to 58 mph or higher and/or 3/4" diameter hail or larger. Once a severe thunderstorm watch is issued for a region, the local National Weather Service offices in the affected region make the final determination on which local counties are included or excluded from the watch. Severe thunderstorm watches are generally in effect for up to six hours at a time and are used to alert you to the potential of dangerous weather conditions developing at a later time.

Tornado Watch
Issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma when conditions over a fairly large geographical area are or will soon become favorable for thunderstorms to form which could produce not only locally damaging straight line winds of 58 mph or higher and/or 3/4" diameter hail or larger, but also tornadoes. Once a tornado watch is issued for a region, the local National Weather Service offices in the affected region make the final determination on which local counties are included or excluded from the watch. Tornado watches are generally in effect for up to six hours at a time and are used to alert you to the potential of dangerous weather conditions, including tornadoes, developing at a later time.

Tornado Warning
Issued by local National Weather Service Forecast offices when Doppler radar indicates a strong low and middle level circulation within a thunderstorm or ground spotters indicate either a funnel cloud or tornado producing damage. Tornado warnings are issued for counties or parts of counties and are generally in effect for thirty to sixty minutes at a time. A WARNING means that a tornado is imminent and that you should take cover in the basement of the building you are in, or if a basement is not available, an interior bathroom or closet on the lowest floor.