Hurricane Watch vs. Warning

Hurricane watches and warnings used to be issued ahead of the storm when it IS at least a tropical depression and is expected to impact you as a hurricane.

Starting during the 2017 hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center, which issues Hurricane Watches and Warnings or Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings can issue those alerts even before it develops into a tropical entity. This gives greater warning time if a storm develops right before it makes landfall.

A watch is issued when hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours or two days.

In most cases, that watch would get upgraded to a hurricane warning when conditions are expected within 36 hours, or one and a half days. This is also issued because the threat for a hurricane becomes more imminent. Once a warning is issued, you need to start to settle down and make sure all of your preparations are done.

#preparedness #hurricanes