What's the difference between a hurricane watch or warning?

Here’s what you need to know to make sure you know the difference between a hurricane watch or warning, a tropical storm watch or warning, and a storm watch or warning.

Here’s what you need to know to make sure you know the difference between a hurricane watch or warning, a tropical storm watch or warning, and a storm watch or warning.

keeping you safe is so very important to the W X II 12 weather team. That's why we want you to have access to weather information wherever you are on the go even while you sleep getting those severe weather alerts to you when you need them to get those, you can download the W X II 12 news app on your phone. When you open the w X like 12 news app, you're going to see three lines in the upper left hand corner. Tap on that. Then you're going to see customized alerts. You're gonna want to choose that when you select the alerts than the alert windows going to come open. You have a lot of alert options. We want you to choose severe weather. Okay, There are some options here, too. As you scroll down, you need to decide where you want to get your watches and warnings. If you choose my location, they will follow you no matter where you are, and you have your phone with you, or you can choose zip code, maybe entering your home address or maybe your work address and you get watches and warnings and alerts just for that area. You can choose both of these options. You're gonna be alerted to things like when lightning is nearby. If you choose that or if a storm is approaching, you'll always get your watches and warnings when you need them, wherever you are with the W X II 12 news app.

What's the difference between a hurricane watch or warning?

Here’s what you need to know to make sure you know the difference between a hurricane watch or warning, a tropical storm watch or warning, and a storm watch or warning.

Hurricanes are dangerous and destructive. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you know and understand weather alerts ahead of and during a hurricane. WXII 12 wants to make sure you stay safe while preparing for a hurricane disaster. Here’s what you need to know to make sure you know the difference between a hurricane watch or warning, tropical storm watch or warning, and a storm watch or warning. Information provided by the National Weather Service.Tropical storm watch: A Tropical storm watch is issued when tropical storm conditions, including winds of 39-73 mph, pose a POSSIBLE threat to a specified coastal area within 48 hours.Tropical storm warning: A tropical storm warning is issued when tropical storm conditions, including winds of 39-73 mph, are EXPECTED in a specified coastal area within 36 hours or less.Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are possible within the specified area of the watch. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.Hurricane warning: A hurricane warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area of the warning. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.Extreme wind warning: Extreme wind warning is issued for sustained surface winds of 115 mph or greater from a major Hurricane (Category 3, 4, or 5) are expected within the next hour. This is usually associated with the eyewall of a major hurricane and is considered your final call to shelter in place.Eyewall: An organized band of cumulonimbus clouds immediately surrounding the center of the tropical cyclone.Landfall: The intersection of the surface center of a tropical cyclone with a coastline. Because the strongest winds in a tropical cyclone are not located precisely at the center, it is possible for a cyclone's strongest winds to be experienced over land even if landfall does not occur. Similarly, it is possible for a tropical cyclone to make landfall and have its strongest winds remain over the water.Storm surge watch: The possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area, generally within 48 hours, in association with an ongoing or potential tropical cyclones, a subtropical cyclone or a post-tropical cyclone. The watch may be issued earlier when other conditions, such as the onset of tropical-storm-force winds, are expected to limit the time available to take protective actions for surge (e.g., evacuations). The warning may also be issued for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation but which could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas.Storm surge warning: The danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area, generally within 36 hours, in association with an ongoing or potential tropical cyclone, a subtropical cyclone or a post-tropical cyclone. The warning may be issued earlier when other conditions, such as the onset of tropical storm force winds, are expected to limit the time available to take protective actions for surge (e.g., evacuations). The warning may also be issued for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation but which could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas.Tropical depression: A tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds (one-minute average) of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.Tropical storm: A tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds ranging from 39-73 mph (34 to 63 knots).CONNECT WITH WXII 12Make sure to download the WXII 12 app, so you can still get updates if the power goes out. You'll also have access to the latest weather alerts for your area, live streaming video, updated forecasts, breaking news and more.WXII 12 News App: Apple devices WXII 12 News App: Android devices More weather coverage: Closing and delays | Latest weather forecast | Post pictures to the uLocal North Carolina Facebook Group | Traffic information | Report closings and delays | SkyCams | Download the WXII12 News mobile app

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

Hurricanes are dangerous and destructive. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you know and understand weather alerts ahead of and during a hurricane.

WXII 12 wants to make sure you stay safe while preparing for a hurricane disaster. Here’s what you need to know to make sure you know the difference between a hurricane watch or warning, tropical storm watch or warning, and a storm watch or warning.

Information provided by the National Weather Service.

Tropical storm watch: A Tropical storm watch is issued when tropical storm conditions, including winds of 39-73 mph, pose a POSSIBLE threat to a specified coastal area within 48 hours.

Tropical storm warning: A tropical storm warning is issued when tropical storm conditions, including winds of 39-73 mph, are EXPECTED in a specified coastal area within 36 hours or less.

Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are possible within the specified area of the watch. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.

Hurricane warning: A hurricane warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area of the warning. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.

Extreme wind warning: Extreme wind warning is issued for sustained surface winds of 115 mph or greater from a major Hurricane (Category 3, 4, or 5) are expected within the next hour. This is usually associated with the eyewall of a major hurricane and is considered your final call to shelter in place.

Eyewall: An organized band of cumulonimbus clouds immediately surrounding the center of the tropical cyclone.

Landfall: The intersection of the surface center of a tropical cyclone with a coastline. Because the strongest winds in a tropical cyclone are not located precisely at the center, it is possible for a cyclone's strongest winds to be experienced over land even if landfall does not occur. Similarly, it is possible for a tropical cyclone to make landfall and have its strongest winds remain over the water.

Storm surge watch: The possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area, generally within 48 hours, in association with an ongoing or potential tropical cyclones, a subtropical cyclone or a post-tropical cyclone. The watch may be issued earlier when other conditions, such as the onset of tropical-storm-force winds, are expected to limit the time available to take protective actions for surge (e.g., evacuations). The warning may also be issued for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation but which could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas.

Storm surge warning: The danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area, generally within 36 hours, in association with an ongoing or potential tropical cyclone, a subtropical cyclone or a post-tropical cyclone. The warning may be issued earlier when other conditions, such as the onset of tropical storm force winds, are expected to limit the time available to take protective actions for surge (e.g., evacuations). The warning may also be issued for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation but which could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas.

Tropical depression: A tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds (one-minute average) of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.

Tropical storm: A tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds ranging from 39-73 mph (34 to 63 knots).

CONNECT WITH WXII 12

Make sure to download the WXII 12 app, so you can still get updates if the power goes out. You'll also have access to the latest weather alerts for your area, live streaming video, updated forecasts, breaking news and more.

WXII 12 News App: Apple devices

WXII 12 News App: Android devices

What's the difference between a hurricane watch or warning?

Here’s what you need to know to make sure you know the difference between a hurricane watch or warning, a tropical storm watch or warning, and a storm watch or warning.

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

CONNECT WITH WXII 12

Top Picks