Texas Severe Weather Season: Watch Vs. Warning Explained

• The Texas sky turns dark with heavy gray clouds.
• The clouds release copious amounts of heavy rainfall.
• The winds start blowing from all directions.
• The National Weather Service issues alerts to warn Texans of potential danger.

This scenario is going to play out many times across Texas this Spring.

Spring storm and severe weather season is here in Texas. It's that time of year when cold fronts move into Texas and override the warm moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. When these two air masses collide over East, North, Central, and South Texas and the weather conditions are just right, you better be prepared for the potential of severe weather.

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When severe weather breaks out, the National Weather Service will be monitoring the situation and issue alerts to the public as warranted. People oftentimes get some of the terminology incorrect when watches and warnings are issued for areas of Texas.

A Weather Watch vs Warning - the difference

A WATCH can be easily described as an area that has potential for some kind of hazardous weather activity to happen. Usually, this covers a large area, and those within the watch should have a plan of action on standby.

A WARNING can be easily described as a particular hazardous weather event that is happening or imminent, and you should take action to protect yourself

During the spring severe weather season, the National Weather Service works along the Storm Prediction Center to issue watches and warnings for things like:

• severe thunderstorm
• flash flood
• flood
• tornado
• high winds
• tropical storm
• hurricane

When the weather tends to get a little crazy in the spring in Texas, simply remember a watch has the potential for the weather event, whereas a warning means the weather event is happening in the warned area at that time.

Stay weather aware this spring y'all.