What is a Severe Weather Watch and a Warning?
*As This Winter Storm Approaches People in the warned areas should be knowledgable of what is expected for their area as potentially hazardous weather conditions can develop.  This will give you time to prepare hopefully and save lives.  There is a video on The Weather Advance website that goes into what A Severe Weather Watch and Warning is.  Watch this video and stay informed of incoming threatning weather if it approaches your area.  Hazardous weather conditions include the following:

*Winter Storm Watch/Warning – Hazardous winter weather conditions that pose a threat to life and/or property are occurring, imminent, or highly likely. The generic term, winter storm warning, is used for a combination of two or more of the following winter weather events; heavy snow, freezing rain, sleet and strong winds.

*Tornado Watch/Warning - Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in and close to the watch area. These watches are issued for large areas by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, and are usually valid for five to eight hours.

*Severe Thunderstorm Watch/Warning - Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. A severe thunderstorm contains large damaging hail of 3/4 inch (20 mm) diameter or larger, and/or damaging winds greater than 58 mph (95 km/h or 50 knots) or greater. Isolated tornadoes are also possible but not expected to be the dominant severe weather event. These watches are issued for large areas by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, and are usually valid for five to eight hours.

*(Flash) Flood Watch/Warning - Conditions are favorable for (flash) flooding in and close to the watch area. These watches are issued by the Weather Forecast Office and are usually issued six to twenty-four hours in advance of expected flood potential. In Canada, a Heavy Rainfall Warning has a similar meaning.

*Flood Watch/Warning - General or areal flooding of streets, low-lying areas, urban storm drains, creeks and small streams is occurring, imminent, or highly likely. Flood warnings are issued for flooding that occurs more than 6 hours after the excessive rainfall. These warnings are issued on a county by county basis by the local Weather Forecast Office and are generally in effect for 6 to 12 hours.

*High Wind Watch/Warning – Sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) or greater for a duration of one hour or longer or frequent gusts to 58 mph (93 km/h) or greater.

*Remember to stay tuned to The Weather Advance Storm Team as Dante, Miller and Myself give  you updates.