Tornado watch issued across Oklahoma City: See live radar, latest alerts

Tornado watch vs. warning: Which is worse? Here’s the difference

With severe weather season underway, it’s important to know the difference between these weather alerts. Here’s what to remember.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch in Norman on Tuesday, April 14, from 3:20 p.m. until 11 p.m.

This warning applies to Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Dewey, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Major, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne, Pottawatomie, Stephens, Tillman, Washita, Archer, TX, Baylor, TX, Clay, TX, Foard, TX, Hardeman, TX, Knox, TX, Wichita, TX, Wilbarger and TX counties.

Oklahoma City area weather radar

What are NWS meteorologists saying?

At 3:20 p.m., the NWS issued a statement including the following information:

“THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 110 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 p.m. CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN OKLAHOMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 32 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CANADIAN CLEVELAND GRADY KINGFISHER LINCOLN LOGAN MCCLAIN OKLAHOMA PAYNE POTTAWATOMIE IN NORTHERN OKLAHOMA GARFIELD GRANT KAY NOBLE IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA ALFALFA BLAINE DEWEY MAJOR IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA GARVIN JEFFERSON STEPHENS IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA CADDO COMANCHE COTTON GREER HARMON JACKSON KIOWA TILLMAN IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA BECKHAM CUSTER WASHITA IN TEXAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES IN NORTHERN TEXAS ARCHER BAYLOR CLAY FOARD HARDEMAN KNOX WICHITA WILBARGER THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALTUS, ANADARKO, ARCHER CITY, BLACKWELL, BLANCHARD, BURNS FLAT, CARMEN, CHANDLER, CHEROKEE, CHICKASHA, CLINTON, CONCHO, CORDELL, CROWELL, DAVENPORT, DUNCAN, EL RENO, ELK CITY, ENID, FAIRVIEW, FREDERICK, GEARY, GRANITE, GUTHRIE, HELENA, HENNESSEY, HENRIETTA, HINTON, HOBART, HOLLIDAY, HOLLIS, KINGFISHER, KNOX CITY, LAKESIDE CITY, LAMONT, LAWTON, LEEDEY, LINDSAY, MANGUM, MEDFORD, MEEKER, MOORE, MUNDAY, MUSTANG, NEWCASTLE, NORMAN, OKARCHE, OKEENE, OKLAHOMA CITY, PAULS VALLEY, PERRY, PONCA CITY, POND CREEK, PRAGUE, PURCELL, QUANAH, RINGLING, RYAN, SAYRE, SCOTLAND, SEILING, SENTINEL, SEYMOUR, SHAWNEE, SHEPPARD AFB, SNYDER, STILLWATER, STROUD, TALOGA, TEMPLE, TUTTLE, VERNON, VICI, WAKITA, WALTERS, WATONGA, WAURIKA, WEATHERFORD, WELLSTON, WICHITA FALLS, WYNNEWOOD, AND YUKON.”

How do you stay safe during a tornado?

During a tornado, the National Weather Service recommends:

• Get as low as possible. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety.
• Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible.
• Avoid windows.

Remember, tornadoes can move across hills and even bodies of water, so always seek shelter if one is nearby – your elevation or proximity to water are not natural sources of protection.

What should you do if you’re driving during a tornado warning?

If you’re driving, especially on interstates or highways, do not try to outrun a tornado – they can move quickly and change direction without warning.

If a tornado warning is in effect, look for ways to safely leave the road and get out of your vehicle. The safest option is to seek shelter in a sturdy building.

If no building is available, avoid taking cover under a highway overpass. While it might seem protective, overpasses can act as wind tunnels, increasing wind speed and the risk of injury.

Instead, lie flat in the nearest depression, ditch, or culvert and cover your head with your arms.

What is a tornado watch?

A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop in and around the watch area. It doesn’t mean a tornado is occurring, but it signals that the necessary ingredients – such as strong wind shear, atmospheric instability and lift – are present.

When a tornado watch is issued, make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather updates and a safety plan ready in case a tornado warning is issued.

What is a tornado warning?

A tornado warning is a more serious alert, indicating that a tornado is either happening or is about to happen, and you should take shelter immediately.

There are two types of alerts:

• Radar-indicated warning: Strong rotation is detected; a tornado may form or is in the process of forming. When a warning is radar-indicated, it typically means the radar has detected a rotating thunderstorm (called a mesocyclone) capable of producing a tornado. However, not all radar-indicated warnings result in an actual tornado touchdown.
• Confirmed warning : A tornado has been spotted or detected by radar through a debris signature.

Regardless of whether the warning is radar-indicated or confirmed, it is critical to take shelter immediately, as tornadoes can form quickly and radar cannot always capture what’s happening at ground level.

Oklahoma weather watches and warnings

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This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor.

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