26-04-2025
It's thunderstorm season. What's the difference between a watch and a warning
Severe weather is common in Michigan during the spring, and knowing when you should take cover can save your life.
The National Weather Service issues a variety of outlooks, watches and warning, and knowing the difference is crucial.
"Severe weather can strike at any time. It is important that everyone be prepared to act when alerts are issued," the National Weather Service said.
Already this spring, severe weather in Michigan has produced record-breaking rainfall totals in several locations, and a damaging ice storm in March.
Here's what you should know about thunderstorm watches and warnings.
A watch is intended to give you time to prepare and review safety rules.
A watch means conditions are right to produce a severe thunderstorm could drop 1-inch or larger diameter hail and/or winds that equal or exceed 58 mph.
The watch area can vary depending on the situation, and alerts are typically issued for a duration of four to eight hours.
A warning is the most severe alert for thunderstorms; people should seek shelter immediately if a warning is issued.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when either a severe thunderstorm is indicated by WSR-88D radar — a weather surveillance Doppler radar — or a spotter reports a thunderstorm producing hail 1-inch or larger in diameter and/or winds at 58 mph or stronger. Lightning frequency is not a criterion for issuing a severe thunderstorm warning.
The warning is usually issued for one hour, and can be issued even if a watch wasn't issued.
"Treat this warning the same as you would a tornado warning by taking the proper safety precautions," the NWS said.
Here's what officials suggest:
The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes. Fortunately, thunderstorms typically do not last very long and will most often pass by your location in less than one hour.
Once in a shelter, stay away from windows and avoid electrical equipment and plumbing. Remember to bring pets inside. If there is time, secure loose objects outside as these objects often become dangerous flying debris in high winds.
Postpone outdoor activities until the storms have passed.
If caught outside, take shelter in a sturdy enclosed building or hard top automobile immediately. Avoid open spaces, isolated objects, high ground and metallic objects.
Get out of boats and away from bodies of water. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center provides online maps for thunderstorm outlooks available for people to view — in addition to daily graphics of Michigan.
The NWS releases updates through social media, such as Facebook, and on X/Twitter for Detroit, Gaylord, Marquette and Grand Rapids.
More: Michigan's severe spring weather is on its way. What to know before it strikes
There are also Wireless Emergency Alerts sent to your phone from government agencies (such as the NWS). People do not need to pay or sign up, and will receive alerts under participating wireless carriers, the Federal Communications Commission said.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Stormy weather expected? What to know about thunderstorm watches, warnings
