Storm Watch vs a Storm Warning: What’s the Difference?

7/18/2021 (Permalink)

Have you ever watched the news during a lightning storm and heard that your town is under a “tornado watch” or a “tornado warning”? If you don’t know the difference between a watch and a warning, your first instinct on hearing either term may be to head to the basement, right? 

Before you evacuate your house or go to the basement, take a read below on what the difference is between the term, what you should do for each, and what to do after a Massachusetts storm occurs.

Storm Watch versus a Storm Warning

First, let’s understand the terms, with a flood watch or warning as an example. 

• Flood watch: Flooding is possible, but isn’t happening right now, and it might not happen. 
• Flood warning: Flooding is happening or will happen soon. It IS going to happen.

The same definitions hold true for a flash flood watch or warning; an ice storm watch or warning; a tornado watch or warning; a hurricane watch or warning; and a severe thunderstorm watch or warning. 

What to During a Storm Watch

You should pay attention to the local news on the radio or TV for further information. If you have an NOAA weather radio, this is the time to turn it on to stay informed.

What to do During a Storm Warning

Evacuate immediately or seek higher ground on foot if you’re advised to do so. Otherwise, stay in your home, but go into the basement or lowest level of the house, and steer clear of windows. 

What to do After a Storm

After a storm has passed, and you’re safe, it’s time to assess your home and property for any damages. Inspect the outside of your house and your fencing, if applicable, for trees or tree branches that may have fallen, as well as tears or holes in your siding, roof, or fencing that could indicate potential storm damage. 

If you see any storm damage, contact our certified and trained Massachusetts storm damage experts at SERVPRO Danvers / Ipswich. We’ll come out and assess your storm damage along with any remediation, restoration, and/or rebuilding (yes, we even rebuild!) that needs to be done to your home.