Severe thunderstorm watch

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch (SAME code: SVA) is issued when weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms. If thunderstorms are expected to be of sufficient strength such that there is a significant risk that they may produce tornadoes, then a Tornado Watch (which also automatically implies that severe thunderstorms are possible) is issued. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch can also be upgraded to a Tornado Watch if conditions originally forecasted for limited to no tornadic development change to allow possible tornado formation (in which case the existing severe thunderstorm watch, or a portion of it, would be replaced). A watch must not be confused with a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

A watch does not necessarily mean that severe weather is actually occurring, only that atmospheric conditions have created a significant risk for severe weather to occur. If severe weather actually does occur, a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado warning will be issued, and urgent action should be taken immediately. While a severe thunderstorm watch does not imply in its name the risk for tornadoes, the risk for tornadoes in such a scenario is not necessarily zero as severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do spawn tornadoes even after only a severe thunderstorm watch has been issued.

In the United States, the Storm Prediction Center (a national guidance center of the National Weather Service (NWS)) issues watches for areas of the lower 48 states that are likely to produce tornadoes and/or severe thunderstorms. The local NWS forecast offices in Hawaii and Alaska issue their own Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches.

The terms "blue box" and "yellow box" refer to the assigned coloring used for watch box outlines used in Storm Prediction Center and National Weather Service products as well as by television broadcast media (in the case of the latter, blue is typically assigned to highlight severe thunderstorm watches whereas yellow is often assigned to severe thunderstorm warnings).

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Wikipedia