Severe thunderstorm watch

A severe thunderstorm watch (SAME code: SVA) is a statement issued by weather forecasting agencies to advise the public that atmospheric conditions in a given region may lead to the development of severe thunderstorms within (or near) the region over several hours. The criteria for issuing a watch varies from country to country and may also include torrential rainfall and tornadoes. A watch may also be issued several hours ahead of the arrival of a mature and organized complex of storms, such as a mesoscale convective system.

Not to be confused with Severe thunderstorm warning.

A severe thunderstorm watch, like a tornado watch, is not to be confused with a warning. A watch encourages the public to remain vigilant—to be on the watch, so to speak—for later severe weather. An area under a watch may even experience deceptively fair weather with few clouds before thunderstorms appear.

In the United States, severe thunderstorm watches are issued by the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

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