What is the difference between a weather watch and warning?
The National Weather Service is the only agency that issues official weather advisories including watches and warnings.

Watch
A watch is used when conditions are favorable for dangerous weather to occur. The weather is not currently occurring.

Warning
A warning means dangerous weather is happening in a certain region or is extremely likely to happen soon.

Weather watches typically come many hours before warnings. For example, a winter storm watch is usually declared for an area from 12 to 36 hours prior to a storm, while a warning indicates that a storm has been observed nearby and is about to hit the area.

Advisory
Another type of weather alert is an advisory. An advisory is similar to a warning except that the weather conditions are not as severe.

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1. What should I do to be prepared in case of an emergency?
2. Where can I find information on creating a personal or business emergency response plan?
3. Why is planning so important?
4. If there is an emergency at work, what should I do to be prepared there?
5. I have a disability and live alone. What should I do to be prepared in case of emergency?
6. What does "shelter in place" mean?
7. How can I obtain information in an emergency?
8. Where can I find information on closings and delays?
9. How does the County prepare for an emergency?
10. What will Frederick County do for me in an emergency?
11. What is a State of Emergency?
12. What is the Snow Emergency Plan?
13. What is the difference between a weather watch and warning?
14. What if the County has to be evacuated? What will the County do for me?
15. Does Frederick County have shelters if we have to evacuate or relocate?
16. I have a disability and do not drive. How will I evacuate if I am told to evacuate? Will the County provide transportation for me?
17. I have a home daycare and am required to list two evacuation sites. What do I use?