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In the United States, severe thunderstorm watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), a national guidance center of the National Weather Service (NWS) branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), [4] [5] for areas of the lower 48 states where atmospheric conditions favor the development of convective thunderstorm activity reaching severe criteria.
These watches are usually valid for a longer period of time and are issued for a larger area by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma than a typical severe thunderstorm watch. This type of watch is usually only reserved for forecast "high-end" severe weather events. [ 5 ]
In Canada, a severe thunderstorm is defined as having wind gusts of greater than 90 km/h (56 mph), hail with a diameter of greater than two centimetres (0.79 in), rainfall rates of greater than 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in one hour or greater than 75 millimetres (3.0 in) in three hours, or tornadoes. [14]
What is a severe thunderstorm? As defined by the NWS, a severe thunderstorm is one that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 miles per hour or hail at least 1 inch in diameter.
A severe thunderstorm watch means a severe thunderstorm is possible in and near the watch area. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Tornado watch vs. warning: The meaning ...
Here's what to know about the differences between a severe weather watch or warning from the National Weather Service.
A tornado watch is not required for a warning to be issued; tornado warnings are occasionally issued when a tornado watch is not active (i.e. when a severe thunderstorm watch is active, or when no watches are in effect), if a severe thunderstorm develops and has a confirmed tornado or strong rotation.
For example, the weather service puts out a tornado watch “when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area.” During those times, the National Atmospheric and ...