I give numerous weather safety talks every year, and I’m always surprised to find that even people who have lived in Kansas all their life aren’t aware of the difference between watch and warning…and especially what each one means in terms of preparedness.
Here are the key differences:
Watch – Prepare
Warning – Act Now
Know the Risks
Severe Weather Hazards – click to expand
In my talks, I recommend having multiple ways to receive watches and warnings. I recommend the Red Cross Tornado app and having a Weather Radio as the primary means, and as watches shift to warnings I recommend media (I’m partial to KWCH) and live streams (mine is at KSStorm.TV)
What about sirens?
Warning sirens are NOT meant to be heard inside your house or business. They are strictly outdoor warning devices only. As Saline County Emergency Manager Hanna Stambaugh explains, sirens are placed where they are to cover areas where people spend time outdoors such as parks, pools and playgrounds.
Ugly Truths About Storm Safety
Social science explains why we need multiple, overlapping sources for alerts:
A great video from the National Weather Service describes the best reaction to a tornado warning depending on your circumstances at the moment the warnign is issued:
Tomorrow: Disaster Kits — What to Have in Yours
Tomorrow’s post will include downloadable lists for your family, your pets, and a special list for those with special needs. We’ll also discuss what to expect in the aftermath of a tornado and if you have to go to a shelter.
Bonus: Where most deaths from tornadoes happen
Southern states are where more people die from tornadoes. Credit: ABC 33/40, Huntsville, AL (h/t Mike Smith)
The main reasons why:
Most tornadoes in the South happen at night
Basements are less common
The forestation gives more projectiles to damage buildings (see the photo at the top of this article for an example)
Members Get More
Additional details are available for these membership levels:
BasicEnthusiast
Keep Up to Date - Enable Notifications
OK
No thanks
1 - Query:
SELECT option_value FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = 'siteurl' LIMIT 1
Time: 0.952 ms
2 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_pmpro_membership_levels
Time: 0.197 ms
3 - Query:
SET time_zone = "+00:00"
Time: 0.295 ms
4 - Query:
SELECT t0.name AS name_1, t0.value AS value_2, t0.id AS id_3, t0.created_at AS created_at_4, t0.updated_at AS updated_at_5 FROM wp_mailpoet_settings t0
Time: 0.284 ms
5 - Query:
SHOW TABLES LIKE 'wp\\_ewwwio\\_images'
Time: 0.632 ms
6 - Query:
select option_name, option_value from wp_options where option_name like 'mcloud%'
Time: 1.269 ms
7 - Query:
SHOW TABLES LIKE 'wp_mcloud_pending_optimizations'
Time: 0.750 ms
8 - Query:
SHOW TABLES LIKE 'wp_mcloud_bg_optimizations'
Time: 0.295 ms
9 - Query:
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM information_schema.tables
WHERE table_schema = 'dbb845775ff53c4a11a5569812f8843b49'
AND table_name IN ('wp_toolset_associations', 'wp_toolset_connected_elements', 'wp_toolset_relationships', 'wp_toolset_type_sets')
Time: 0.787 ms
10 - Query:
SELECT count(w0_.id) AS sclr_0 FROM wp_mailpoet_subscribers w0_ WHERE w0_.deleted_at IS NULL AND w0_.status IN ('subscribed', 'unconfirmed', 'inactive')
Time: 0.353 ms
11 - Query:
SELECT a.action_id FROM wp_actionscheduler_actions a LEFT JOIN wp_actionscheduler_groups g ON g.group_id=a.group_id WHERE 1=1 AND g.slug='mailpoet-cron' AND a.hook='mailpoet/cron/daemon-trigger' AND a.args='[]' AND a.status IN ('in-progress', 'pending') LIMIT 0, 1
Time: 0.354 ms
12 - Query:
SELECT DISTINCT t.trigger_key
FROM `wp_mailpoet_automations` AS a
JOIN `wp_mailpoet_automation_triggers` as t
WHERE a.status = 'active' AND a.id = t.automation_id
ORDER BY trigger_key DESC
Time: 0.467 ms
13 - Query:
SELECT id FROM wp_pmpro_membership_levels LIMIT 1
Time: 0.193 ms
14 - Query:
SELECT id FROM wp_pmpro_membership_levels WHERE allow_signups = 1 AND (initial_payment > 0 OR billing_amount > 0 OR trial_amount > 0) LIMIT 1
Time: 0.058 ms
15 - Query:
SELECT user_id FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_users WHERE initial_payment > 0 OR billing_amount > 0 OR trial_amount > 0 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.061 ms
16 - Query:
SELECT DISTINCT meta_value FROM wp_postmeta
WHERE meta_key = '_view_loop_template'
AND meta_value != '0'
ORDER BY post_id
Time: 0.200 ms
17 - Query:
SELECT ID, post_name, post_parent, post_type
FROM wp_posts
WHERE post_name IN ('swaw17-watch-vs-warning')
AND post_type IN ('page','attachment')
Time: 0.654 ms
18 - Query:
SELECT wp_posts.ID
FROM wp_posts
WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.post_name = 'swaw17-watch-vs-warning' AND wp_posts.post_type = 'post'
ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC
Time: 0.744 ms
19 - Query:
SELECT autoload FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = 'pmpro_visits' LIMIT 1
Time: 1.179 ms
20 - Query:
SHOW FULL COLUMNS FROM `wp_options`
Time: 2.393 ms
21 - Query:
UPDATE `wp_options` SET `option_value` = 'a:9:{s:5:\"today\";i:940;s:8:\"thisdate\";s:10:\"2025-27-06\";s:4:\"week\";i:8204;s:8:\"thisweek\";s:2:\"26\";s:5:\"month\";i:31676;s:9:\"thismonth\";s:1:\"6\";s:3:\"ytd\";i:278018;s:8:\"thisyear\";s:4:\"2025\";s:7:\"alltime\";i:1495242;}' WHERE `option_name` = 'pmpro_visits'
Time: 0.436 ms
22 - Query:
SELECT ID
FROM wp_posts
INNER JOIN wp_postmeta
ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id )
INNER JOIN wp_postmeta AS mt1
ON ( wp_posts.ID = mt1.post_id )
WHERE 1=1
AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_enabled'
AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = 'yes' ) )
AND post_title = 'swaw17-watch-vs-warning/'
AND post_type = 'seopress_404'
AND post_status = 'publish'
AND ( ( mt1.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_logged_status'
AND mt1.meta_value = 'only_not_logged_in' )
OR ( mt1.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_logged_status'
AND mt1.meta_value = 'both' ) )
Time: 0.775 ms
23 - Query:
SELECT ID
FROM wp_posts
WHERE 1=1
AND post_title = 'swaw17-watch-vs-warning/'
AND post_type = 'seopress_404'
Time: 0.341 ms
24 - Query:
SELECT ID
FROM wp_posts
INNER JOIN wp_postmeta
ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id )
INNER JOIN wp_postmeta AS mt1
ON ( wp_posts.ID = mt1.post_id )
WHERE 1=1
AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_enabled'
AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = 'yes' ) )
AND post_title = ''
AND post_type = 'seopress_404'
AND post_status = 'publish'
AND ( ( mt1.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_logged_status'
AND mt1.meta_value = 'only_not_logged_in' )
OR ( mt1.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_logged_status'
AND mt1.meta_value = 'both' ) )
Time: 0.094 ms
25 - Query:
SELECT ID
FROM wp_posts
WHERE 1=1
AND post_title = ''
AND post_type = 'seopress_404'
Time: 0.087 ms
26 - Query:
SELECT ID
FROM wp_posts
INNER JOIN wp_postmeta
ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id )
INNER JOIN wp_postmeta AS mt1
ON ( wp_posts.ID = mt1.post_id )
WHERE 1=1
AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_enabled'
AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = 'yes' ) )
AND post_title = 'swaw17-watch-vs-warning'
AND post_type = 'seopress_404'
AND post_status = 'publish'
AND ( ( mt1.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_logged_status'
AND mt1.meta_value = 'only_not_logged_in' )
OR ( mt1.meta_key = '_seopress_redirections_logged_status'
AND mt1.meta_value = 'both' ) )
Time: 0.609 ms
27 - Query:
SELECT ID
FROM wp_posts
WHERE 1=1
AND post_title = 'swaw17-watch-vs-warning'
AND post_type = 'seopress_404'
Time: 0.227 ms
28 - Query:
SELECT p.ID FROM wp_posts AS p WHERE p.post_date < '2017-03-06 08:39:57' AND p.post_type = 'post' AND p.post_status = 'publish' ORDER BY p.post_date DESC LIMIT 1
Time: 0.938 ms
29 - Query:
SELECT p.ID FROM wp_posts AS p WHERE p.post_date > '2017-03-06 08:39:57' AND p.post_type = 'post' AND p.post_status = 'publish' ORDER BY p.post_date ASC LIMIT 1
Time: 1.177 ms
30 - Query:
SELECT post_id, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key = '_wp_attached_file' AND meta_value = '2021/04/image025.jpg'
Time: 0.402 ms
31 - Query:
SELECT DISTINCT t.term_id
FROM wp_terms AS t INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS tt ON t.term_id = tt.term_id INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships AS tr ON tr.term_taxonomy_id = tt.term_taxonomy_id
WHERE tt.taxonomy IN ('category', 'post_tag', 'wpmf_tag', 'event') AND tr.object_id IN (5454)
ORDER BY t.name ASC
Time: 0.398 ms
32 - Query:
SELECT DISTINCT t.term_id
FROM wp_terms AS t INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS tt ON t.term_id = tt.term_id INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships AS tr ON tr.term_taxonomy_id = tt.term_taxonomy_id
WHERE tt.taxonomy IN ('category') AND tr.object_id IN (5454)
ORDER BY tt.parent DESC
Time: 0.249 ms
33 - Query:
SELECT autoload FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = 'pmpro_views' LIMIT 1
Time: 0.826 ms
34 - Query:
UPDATE `wp_options` SET `option_value` = 'a:9:{s:5:\"today\";i:1032;s:8:\"thisdate\";s:10:\"2025-27-06\";s:4:\"week\";i:9179;s:8:\"thisweek\";s:2:\"26\";s:5:\"month\";i:36564;s:9:\"thismonth\";s:1:\"6\";s:3:\"ytd\";i:288288;s:8:\"thisyear\";s:4:\"2025\";s:7:\"alltime\";i:998331;}' WHERE `option_name` = 'pmpro_views'
Time: 0.373 ms
35 - Query:
SELECT DISTINCT t.term_id
FROM wp_terms AS t INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS tt ON t.term_id = tt.term_id INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships AS tr ON tr.term_taxonomy_id = tt.term_taxonomy_id
WHERE tt.taxonomy IN ('category') AND tr.object_id IN (5454)
ORDER BY t.name ASC
Time: 0.242 ms
36 - Query:
SELECT DISTINCT t.term_id
FROM wp_terms AS t INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS tt ON t.term_id = tt.term_id INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships AS tr ON tr.term_taxonomy_id = tt.term_taxonomy_id
WHERE tt.taxonomy IN ('post_tag') AND tr.object_id IN (5454)
ORDER BY t.name ASC
Time: 0.163 ms
37 - Query:
(SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories mc LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mc.membership_id = m.id WHERE mc.category_id IN(19) AND m.id IS NOT NULL) UNION (SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mp.membership_id = m.id WHERE mp.page_id = '5454')
Time: 0.106 ms
38 - Query:
(SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories mc LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mc.membership_id = m.id WHERE mc.category_id IN(19) AND m.id IS NOT NULL) UNION (SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mp.membership_id = m.id WHERE mp.page_id = '5454')
Time: 0.255 ms
39 - Query:
(SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories mc LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mc.membership_id = m.id WHERE mc.category_id IN(19) AND m.id IS NOT NULL) UNION (SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mp.membership_id = m.id WHERE mp.page_id = '5454')
Time: 0.260 ms
40 - Query:
SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE ID IN (5464,5465,5466)
Time: 0.473 ms
41 - Query:
SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (5464,5465,5466) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
Time: 0.324 ms
42 - Query:
SELECT post_id, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key = '_wp_attached_file' AND meta_value = '2017/03/images-wrn-social_media-2017-severe_weather_hazards.png'
Time: 24.970 ms
43 - Query:
select post_id from wp_mcloud_post_map where post_url = 'https://ksstorm.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/images-wrn-social_media-2017-severe_weather_hazards.png' order by post_id desc limit 1
Time: 0.537 ms
44 - Query:
select ID from wp_posts where post_type='attachment' and guid = 'https://ksstorm.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/images-wrn-social_media-2017-severe_weather_hazards.png' order by ID desc limit 1
Time: 4.017 ms
45 - Query:
select ID from wp_posts where post_type='attachment' and guid like '%wp-content/uploads/2017/03/images-wrn-social_media-2017-severe_weather_hazards.png' order by ID desc limit 1
Time: 5.760 ms
46 - Query:
SELECT post_id, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key = '_wp_attached_file' AND meta_value = '2017/03/ugly-reality-of-warnings.png'
Time: 31.243 ms
47 - Query:
select post_id from wp_mcloud_post_map where post_url = 'https://ksstorm.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ugly-reality-of-warnings.png' order by post_id desc limit 1
Time: 0.410 ms
48 - Query:
select ID from wp_posts where post_type='attachment' and guid = 'https://ksstorm.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ugly-reality-of-warnings.png' order by ID desc limit 1
Time: 3.179 ms
49 - Query:
select ID from wp_posts where post_type='attachment' and guid like '%wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ugly-reality-of-warnings.png' order by ID desc limit 1
Time: 6.006 ms
50 - Query:
SELECT post_id, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key = '_wp_attached_file' AND meta_value = '2017/03/most-deaths-from-tornadoes-south.png'
Time: 27.691 ms
51 - Query:
select post_id from wp_mcloud_post_map where post_url = 'https://ksstorm.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/most-deaths-from-tornadoes-south.png' order by post_id desc limit 1
Time: 0.617 ms
52 - Query:
select ID from wp_posts where post_type='attachment' and guid = 'https://ksstorm.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/most-deaths-from-tornadoes-south.png' order by ID desc limit 1
Time: 3.789 ms
53 - Query:
select ID from wp_posts where post_type='attachment' and guid like '%wp-content/uploads/2017/03/most-deaths-from-tornadoes-south.png' order by ID desc limit 1
Time: 6.962 ms
54 - Query:
SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE ID IN (5464,5465,5466)
Time: 0.192 ms
55 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5464 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.506 ms
56 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5464 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.178 ms
57 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5465 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.293 ms
58 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5465 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.204 ms
59 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5466 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.340 ms
60 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5466 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.452 ms
61 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5464 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.102 ms
62 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5464 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.100 ms
63 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5465 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.101 ms
64 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5465 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.217 ms
65 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5466 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.065 ms
66 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5466 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.069 ms
67 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5464 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.075 ms
68 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5464 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.161 ms
69 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5465 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.089 ms
70 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5465 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.077 ms
71 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5466 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.087 ms
72 - Query:
SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 5466 LIMIT 1
Time: 0.089 ms
73 - Query:
(SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories mc LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mc.membership_id = m.id WHERE mc.category_id IN(19) AND m.id IS NOT NULL) UNION (SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mp.membership_id = m.id WHERE mp.page_id = '5454')
Time: 0.266 ms
74 - Query:
SELECT DISTINCT(mp.page_id)
FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp
LEFT JOIN wp_posts p ON mp.page_id = p.ID
WHERE p.post_type IN('page', 'post')
Time: 0.132 ms
75 - Query:
SELECT DISTINCT(tr.object_id)
FROM wp_term_relationships tr
LEFT JOIN wp_posts p ON tr.object_id = p.ID
WHERE tr.term_taxonomy_id IN(
SELECT category_id
FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories
)
AND p.post_type IN('page', 'post')
Time: 0.067 ms
76 - Query:
(SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories mc LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mc.membership_id = m.id WHERE mc.category_id IN(20,153) AND m.id IS NOT NULL) UNION (SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mp.membership_id = m.id WHERE mp.page_id = '128006')
Time: 0.187 ms
77 - Query:
(SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories mc LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mc.membership_id = m.id WHERE mc.category_id IN(20,153) AND m.id IS NOT NULL) UNION (SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mp.membership_id = m.id WHERE mp.page_id = '128033')
Time: 0.195 ms
78 - Query:
(SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories mc LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mc.membership_id = m.id WHERE mc.category_id IN(23) AND m.id IS NOT NULL) UNION (SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mp.membership_id = m.id WHERE mp.page_id = '127306')
Time: 0.161 ms
79 - Query:
(SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_categories mc LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mc.membership_id = m.id WHERE mc.category_id IN(23) AND m.id IS NOT NULL) UNION (SELECT m.id, m.name FROM wp_pmpro_memberships_pages mp LEFT JOIN wp_pmpro_membership_levels m ON mp.membership_id = m.id WHERE mp.page_id = '127215')
Time: 0.230 ms
80 - Query:
select * from `wp_fluentform_forms` where `status` = 'published' and `id` = '19' limit 1
Time: 0.262 ms
81 - Query:
select * from `wp_fluentform_form_meta` where `form_id` = '19' and `meta_key` = 'formSettings' limit 1
Time: 0.330 ms
82 - Query:
select * from `wp_fluentform_form_meta` where `form_id` = '19' and `meta_key` = '_ff_selected_style' limit 1
Time: 0.189 ms
83 - Query:
select * from `wp_fluentform_form_meta` where `form_id` = '19' and `meta_key` in ('_custom_form_css', '_custom_form_js')
Time: 0.224 ms
84 - Query:
select * from `wp_fluentform_form_meta` where `form_id` = '19' and `meta_key` in ('_ff_form_styler_css', '_ff_selected_style', 'ffs_default')
Time: 0.119 ms
85 - Query:
select * from `wp_fluentform_form_meta` where (`form_id` = '19' and `meta_key` = 'ffs_default') limit 1
Time: 0.170 ms
86 - Query:
select * from `wp_fluentform_form_meta` where (`form_id` = '19' and `meta_key` = '_ff_form_styles') limit 1
Time: 0.145 ms
