Tornado season arrives early

Wednesday’s tornado weather may have been unseasonal, but the true tornado season is on its way. With a tornado watch and warning occurring at separate times Wednesday, brush up on what you need to know about these twisters.  The season starts in March, so with a little more than a month left before the actual  starting date, read up on your weather words.

Know what to look for

Tornado watch: Conditions are conducive to the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area.
 
Tornado warning: A tornado has been sighted by spotters or indicated on radar and is occurring or imminent in the warning area.
 
Severe thunderstorm watch: Conditions are conducive to the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
 
Severe thunderstorm warning: A severe thunderstorm has been observed by spotters or indicated on radar and is occurring or imminent in the warning area.
 
Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes or cause damage from their strong wind gusts and/or hail.

Source: The Weather Channel Storm Encyclopedia