Severe Weather Awareness Week: Learn the difference between watch/warning by baking cookies

It is Severe Weather Awareness Week across Ohio. Now is the time to prepare with your family before severe weather strikes. Two important weather terms to know are watch and warning. You will hear Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Tornado Warning and may wonder what they mean or what to do. Wednesday at 9:50 a.m. will be a statewide tornado drill.

An easy way to remember the difference is to think about baking cookies!

>> Severe Weather Awareness Week begins today; Statewide tornado drill to be held Wednesday morning

A WATCH means you should prepare for the possibility of a severe storm or tornado. This means the ingredients are there for severe weather to develop. You should review your safety plan and know where you would go if severe weather strikes. Making sure you have your WHIO Weather App with push notifications turned on will allow you to get the latest watches and warnings on your phone.

A WARNING means you should act NOW, because severe weather is occurring, or a tornado has been seen or indicated by radar. This means you must get into your safe spot immediately, especially if a Tornado Warning has been issued. If it is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, get inside and away from any windows.

If you have all your ingredients out to make the cookies (severe storms,) a watch could be issued. When all the ingredients come together and the cookies are ready, a warning would be issued because severe weather has been reported or spotted.

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