Watch vs. Warning

Its Important to understand the difference between a Watch and a Warning! 

Listen for National Weather Service alerts on TV or radio or check for them online. There are two kinds of alerts:

• A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour [mph] or higher) are possible in a stated area. Experts announce hurricane watches 48 hours before they expect tropical-storm-force winds (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) to start.
• A hurricane warning is more serious. It means hurricane-force winds are expected in a stated area. Experts issue these warnings 36 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected in the area to give people enough time to prepare for the storm.

Tropical Storm Warning: Tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected within your area within 36 hours. Extreme Wind Warning: Extreme sustained winds of a major hurricane (115 mph or greater), usually associated with the eyewall, are expected to begin within an hour.

Stages of a Hurricane

• Tropical Disturbance. A tropical disturbance is this formation of loosely packed rain clouds forming thunderstorms.
• Tropical Depression. A tropical disturbance requires specific criteria to take the next step to become a tropical depression.
• Tropical Storm.
• Hurricanes.
• Dissipation.