Question: Severe tstorm watch vs tornado watch--why bother

[Anonymous]

Ok-My area is currently under a severe thunderstorm watch. To me, that means we may see a minor severe weather event--maybe some strong winds and hail but most likely, nothing tornadic as the general public probably thinks the same. However, in the latest meso discussion, the have thrown in an increasing tornado threat as seen here http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0385.html . Every severe thunderstorm watch comes with this statement in the wording "SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
TORNADOES."-which in that wording to me means consider yourself in a tornado watch. Why does the SPC bother seperating the two watches? Tornadoes come from severe thunderstorms and I have seen countless times where an area was under a severe tstorm watch and wound up with a tornado warning. Why not make all watches tornado watches or change everything to a general severe weather watch?

[CaptinCrunch]

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
603 AM EST FRI MAR 25 2005

FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-261100-
ALACHUA-APPLING-ATKINSON-BACON-BAKER-BRADFORD-BRANTLEY-
CAMDEN (COASTAL)-CAMDEN (INLAND)-CHARLTON-CLAY-CLINCH-COFFEE-
COLUMBIA-DUVAL-ECHOLS-FLAGLER-GILCHRIST-GLYNN (COASTAL)-
GLYNN (INLAND)-HAMILTON-JEFF DAVIS-MARION-NASSAU-PIERCE-PUTNAM-
ST JOHNS-SUWANNEE-UNION-WARE-WAYNE-
603 AM EST FRI MAR 25 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST...

A WARM FRONT OVER THE REGION IN COMBINATION WITH A SERIES OF UPPER
LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL CAUSE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO
DEVELOP TODAY. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
WEEKEND...

A SERIES OF STRONG DISTURBANCES WILL PUSH ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA
THROUGH EASTER SUNDAY. STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.

[Anonymous]

Ok-I think I see what you are pointing out--tornado threat is in our HWO--most of the public does not read nor hear of the HWO-many dont even know what it is... But watches and warnings are broadcasted over the radio and tv stAtions via EAS. So you hear the EAS warning and say "ok, its just a severe thunderstorm watch--at least its not a tornado watch" weak event.

Meanwhile, there is currently a severe thunderstorm warning out for the Lake City area with this wording....Would this have been a tornado warning if there was a tornado watch out???

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM.
WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

Hmm-people who thought there was a weak wind /hail threat are suddenly faced with a tornado threat (Possibly)

My thinking is this-a tornado watch gets more peoples attention than a severe thunderstorm watch... why not make every watch a tornado watch because severe thunderstorms breed tornadoes.

[NorthGaWeather]

Probably because the requirements for verifing a tornado watch won't be met.

[Anonymous]

Tornado warnings issued....Unbelievable-this is missing me by about 10-15 miles as it goes into clay county

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1046 AM EST FRI MAR 25 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN BRADFORD COUNTY IN NORTHERN FLORIDA

* UNTIL 1115 AM EST

* AT 1038 AM EST...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED A DEVELOPING
TORNADO OVER UNION COUNTY...AND THIS CIRCULATION HAS MOVED NEAR
RAIFORD...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LAWTEY AND STARKE.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 800-499-1594 TO REPORT
SEVERE WEATHER.

LAT...LON 3008 8217 2998 8227 2988 8205 3006 8205


SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1059 AM EST FRI MAR 25 2005

FLC125-251609-
/O.CAN.KJAX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-050325T1630Z/
UNION FL-
1059 AM EST FRI MAR 25 2005

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN UNION COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE ROTATION THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS EXITED THE COUNTY.
HOWEVER...STRONG GUSTY WINDS UP TO 45 MPH AND SMALL HAIL UP CAN BE
EXPECTED ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY THROUGH 1115 MPH.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 800-499-1594 TO REPORT
SEVERE WEATHER.

LAT...LON 3014 8232 3010 8244 3002 8226 3013 8214

$$

[Anonymous]

Local news is stayying on air now for this warning for clay county/orange park/middleburg.....

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1103 AM EST FRI MAR 25 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

* UNTIL 1145 AM EST

* AT 1055 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
DEVELOPING TORNADO NEAR KINGSLEY...OR ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF
MELROSE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
KINGSLEY..AREAS NEAR CAMP BLANDING AND PENNEY FARMS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 800-499-1594 TO REPORT
SEVERE WEATHER.

LAT...LON 3001 8204 2983 8203 2985 8174 3003 8170

$$

ENYEDI

[depotoo]

having lived in tx - we had many a thunderstorm where conditions weren't quite right to produce a tornado. therefore we always had thuderstorm watches or warnings at these times. where as when the thunderstorms were capable of producing a tornado then a tornado watch was issued as well as a thunderstorm watch.

[Anonymous]

Another warning....

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1142 AM EST FRI MAR 25 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
PUTNAM COUNTY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF PALATKA

* UNTIL 1230 PM EST

* AT 1135 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
FLORAHOME...OR ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF INTERLACHEN...AND MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
FLORAHOME...BOSTWICK AND ETONIAH CREEK STATE FOREST.

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM.
WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 800-499-1594 TO REPORT
SEVERE WEATHER.

LAT...LON 2982 8178 2974 8195 2955 8174 2976 8153

$$

ENYEDI

This storm too turns tornadic....

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1151 AM EST FRI MAR 25 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHEASTERN PUTNAM COUNTY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...PALATKA...EAST PALATKA

* UNTIL 1230 PM EST

* AT 1142 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
DEVELOPING TORNADO 9 MILES WEST OF BOSTWICK...OR ABOUT 9 MILES
NORTHWEST OF PALATKA...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
ORANGE MILLS AND SAN MATEO.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 800-499-1594 TO REPORT
SEVERE WEATHER.

LAT...LON 2980 8174 2967 8185 2958 8158 2977 8154

$$

ENYEDI

[jeff]

The difference in the watch reflects the different atmospheric setups to produce severe weather. Some days you will have a tornado set up: strong shear, high CAPE, good moisture ect. Other days you may have high CAPE and good moisture but weak shear, this is when a severe thunderstorm watch would be needed. Tornadoes do happen within Severe Thunderstorm Watches, but only issuing tornado watches all the time would be like crying wolf all the time and the public would become immune to the threat.

I think the watches are more of a heads up for law enforcement, OEM, media, spotters, NWS offices than the public as they really do not know or care what a watch is or if they are under one. If it is sunny outside as it is when many watches are issued the last thing the public is thinking about is severe weather. Now once the sky turns dark, the public generally begins to become more aware of the situation and pay closer attention.