Blog Article

Watch vs Warning: PDS Watch and Emergency Meanings

A watch means be ready. A warning means act now. Learn what a PDS watch, tornado emergency and flash flood emergency mean and what to do for each.

Watch vs Warning: PDS Watch and Emergency Meanings

Watch vs. warning: what PDS watches and emergencies mean

A watch means the setup is right for a hazard to develop, so get ready. A warning means the hazard is happening or about to happen, so act now. A PDS watch, a tornado emergency and a flash flood emergency are the top rungs of that ladder, and each one means more than the plain version.

The short version

  • Watch: conditions are favorable. Be ready, and know where you would shelter.
  • Warning: the hazard is happening or about to. Take action right now.
  • PDS watch: a rare, enhanced watch used when confidence is high in multiple strong or violent tornadoes or widespread, intense damaging winds.
  • Tornado emergency: a confirmed large tornado is headed for a populated area. Catastrophic damage is expected.
  • Flash flood emergency: a severe threat to human life from flash flooding is happening or about to happen.

Watch: the ingredients are in place

Think of a watch like a recipe sitting on the counter. The ingredients are out, so be ready if a storm develops. Tornado watches and severe thunderstorm watches come from the Storm Prediction Center. They usually cover a big area, often many counties, and last several hours.

A watch does not mean a storm is coming to your house. It means the day could produce one, so you plan your next few hours around that. You can see the bigger picture on our severe storm outlooks before a watch is ever issued.

Warning: it's happening or about to

A warning comes from the local National Weather Service office and covers a specific area, drawn as a polygon around the threat. Most last 30 to 60 minutes. If you are inside that shape, the hazard is happening or about to happen.

Advisories sit below warnings. They cover things that are a nuisance or an inconvenience but less serious, and they do not call for the same urgency.

PDS watch: a rare, enhanced watch

PDS stands for "particularly dangerous situation." It is a watch with extra emphasis, used when confidence is high in multiple strong or violent tornadoes, or in widespread, intense damaging winds. It is rare.

It is still a watch. It is not a warning for your location. What changes is how seriously you treat the next few hours. Finish errands early, charge your phone, decide where you will shelter, and keep a way to get warnings that does not depend on being awake or near a TV.

Tornado emergency: the top tier of a tornado warning

A tornado emergency is the highest level of tornado warning. It means a confirmed large tornado is headed for a populated area, with a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage expected. It is rare.

If you are in one, treat it as the most urgent version of a tornado warning. There is no waiting to see it, and no time to find out whether the neighbors are leaving.

Flash flood emergency: a catastrophic flooding threat

A flash flood emergency means a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from flash flooding is happening or about to happen.

Most flood deaths happen in vehicles. Just 12 inches of moving water can float many cars, and 2 feet can carry away most vehicles. Our flash flood outlook shows where heavy rain could cause trouble before warnings start.

What to do

For a watch (including a PDS watch):

  • Know your shelter spot: the lowest floor, in an interior room away from windows.
  • Charge phones and any backup batteries.
  • Keep shoes, a flashlight and your phone near that spot.
  • If you live in a mobile home, pick a sturdier building to go to ahead of time.
  • Turn on alerts that wake you up. You can sign up for free Y'all Alerts.

For a tornado warning:

  • Go to your shelter spot now. Do not wait for confirmation.
  • Cover your head and neck.
  • If you are in a vehicle, get into a sturdy building if you can reach one safely.

For a tornado emergency:

  • Do everything above immediately. Get underground or to the lowest, most interior part of a solid building.
  • Do not try to outrun it in traffic unless you are already clear of its path and safe to leave.

For a flash flood warning or emergency:

  • Move to higher ground right away. Leave low spots, underpasses and creek banks.
  • Never drive into water covering the road.
  • If your car stalls in rising water, get out and move up if you safely can.

Watches give you time to get ready, and warnings leave very little of it, so use the time a watch gives you. Check every active alert on our live warnings page.

https://ryanhallyall.com/blog/watch-vs-warning-and-what-a-pds-watch-or-emergency-means