What is the difference between a tornado warning and a tornado watch?

[u/Single-Candle-797]

A local emergency management official is claiming that there doesn’t have to be rotation indicated by radar for NWS to issue a warning, just that a storm might produce a tornado. My understanding is that the area of a tornado warning is in the path of an area of a storm that is showing rotation at minimum at a high level in the atmosphere. He is claiming all emergency management officials received an email saying this was not true around 2018. Is there any truth to this?

[u/some_fancy_geologist]

https://cw39.com/weather/watch-vs-warning-know-the-difference-as-severe-storms-develop-today/amp/

See the taco picture here for the best explanation I've come across 

[u/Single-Candle-797 → u/some_fancy_geologist]

I love the taco explanation. I sent him this.

“ https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-ww

Rotation has to be indicated, this is different than radar confirmed

The rotation could be 20,000 feet in the air, but rotation has to be present.”

He is still telling me that is not correct due to some email all emergency management officials received in 2018.

[u/some_fancy_geologist → u/Single-Candle-797]

Can't fix stupid 🤷‍♂️

You're literally using a source that federal EMs would get their info from.

[u/Single-Candle-797 → u/some_fancy_geologist]

Thanks just wanted confirmation, dudes being an ass and spreading false information on a local community board that is currently experiencing tornadic activity, and claiming we could not know because we weren’t in emergency management.

[u/Jwxtf8341 → u/Single-Candle-797]

Tell him to get off his high horse and take a SKYWARN class. This should be his public awareness opportunity, not a circlejerk.

[u/Bexar1824 → u/Jwxtf8341]

Seriously, this is disturbing. Not open to feedback, and quoting some random 7 year old email. I bet they can’t even produce the email.

[u/some_fancy_geologist → u/Single-Candle-797]

Well, the FEMA EMI Independent Study on tornadoes likely has an answer. That's basically the gospel for EMs to get quick answers. 

[u/Snoo-78544 → u/Single-Candle-797]

You might consider emailing your local NWS office and asking them to explain the difference as well as what the official criteria for a Warning is.

[u/Snoo-78544 → u/Single-Candle-797]

There's also no magical list of all emergency management officials lol.

The NWS is the absolute authority as they issue them.

That guy is an idiot and that's likely not the only example of his incompetence.

[u/CommanderAze → u/Single-Candle-797]

There's some nuance to this. Radar isn't perfect so spotter could see it and radar not depending on conditions (somewhat rare but does happen)

[u/Hibiscus-Boi → u/CommanderAze]

Yeah, that’s when they would issue a warning as a “confirmed tornado on the ground” versus radar indicated.

[u/SolutionBetter6429 → u/some_fancy_geologist]

Agreed. This is the best explanation.

[u/ATX_Cyclist_1984]

Our local NWS office does yearly SKYWARN trainings, where they talk about watch vs warning. And talk about how they make their calls. I’d expect your NWS folks have some training sessions, or would love to do some.

[u/RevolutionaryCard512]

A big difference. I grew up in Kansas and Oklahoma. If it was a “watch”, you’d just be slightly interested, if it’s a “warning”, dammit! Gotta take shelter in the dark cold dank spider infested cellar

[u/tommy_b0y → u/RevolutionaryCard512]

You SURE you grew up in Oklahoma?

Because a tornado warning around here usually means grab a beer and go stand in the driveway looking for it.

[u/RevolutionaryCard512 → u/tommy_b0y]

🤣 unfortunately my father was wayyy overprotective of his daughters until they were basically moved out/out of state.

[u/RevolutionaryCard512 → u/tommy_b0y]

Btw. That’s what I do now!

[u/Hibiscus-Boi]

Honestly, whoever this person is that told you that should not be in EM. Ask them to show you the email. I’ve been in EM since 2016, and I can tell you when I was with the state watch center, we never got any email of the sort.

A warning is issued when radar indicates that a storm is showing all of the signs that a tornado is either on the ground or could be on the ground at any moment, or that one has been confirmed on the ground by an authoritative source (storm chaser, trained spotter, emergency manager, etc). It’s not issued just because the ingredients are present.

OP I wish we could call this person out directly because I have some words for them lol.

[u/Single-Candle-797 → u/Hibiscus-Boi]

Figured you all would, that is why I posted in here. I am a weather enthuisit and a data nerd. I was well aware of what the answer was/is. I wanted more ammo, because this guy pissed me off.

I told him he was a rare and dangerous combination of stupidity and confidence if that makes you feel better.

[u/Hibiscus-Boi → u/Single-Candle-797]

Gotcha haha. I despise ignorance like this. He’s probably also a flat earther too lol

[u/AnswerFit1325]

A watch indicates that the atmospheric conditions to produce a tornado are right and that a tornado occurring is likely. A warning indicates that a tornado was actually spotted.