Guides
Severe weather, in plain language.
Short, no-jargon explainers for the terms you hear when the weather turns — so a watch, a warning, or an "Enhanced risk" actually tells you what to do. Not official guidance; always follow your local National Weather Service office.
Weather watch vs. warning: what's the difference?
The single most useful thing to know: a watch means be ready, a warning means act now — for tornadoes, severe storms, and flash floods.
SPC outlook risk levels, explained
Marginal, Slight, Enhanced, Moderate, High — what the Storm Prediction Center's five categories actually mean for your day.
'Considerable', 'Destructive', PDS & tornado emergencies
NWS now tags its warnings by how bad the impact could be. Here's what each tag means and when to take extra action.