KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Whenever severe weather moves into the East Tennessee area, it’s a good idea to refresh and understand how severe weather alerts work.
When there’s a tornado risk, the National Weather Service will issue two kinds of alerts: a tornado watch or a tornado warning. There’s an important difference, according to the NWS.
Tornado Watch: A tornado watch means it’s time to get prepared. The NWS issues this alert when tornadoes are possible in the area. The service recommends reviewing your emergency plans and making sure you’ve got the supplies you need, should a tornado appear. These warnings are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes could happen.
Tornado Warning: When a tornado warning goes out, it’s time to take action, according to the NWS. It means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by a weather radar, and there is a risk to life and property. The NWS recommends avoiding windows and taking cover. These warnings are issued by local forecast offices, and usually cover a smaller area.
When it comes to keeping up with severe weather, make sure you have the WVLT First Alert Weather App or check the latest conditions here.
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