We know that the weather in Western New York can turn really quickly.

From sunshine to stormy weather can happen in a flash and many times you will hear about a weather advisory, warning, or watch.

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So what is the difference?

The National Weather Service in Buffalo broke down some of the differences to make it easier for people to understand how important each of the alerts is for your safety.


 

Also besides a watch, an advisory could be issued. This is issued when a hazardous weather event is occurring, imminent or likely. Advisories are for less serious conditions than warnings, and the event could cause some disruption but the event will not be severe. If there is a chance of a major impact from the event, a warning would be issued after the watch and advisory.

The weather can change on a dime in Western New York and the quicker you know about an alert the better your chances are staying safe during a weather emergency.

Hopefully, this will help you be prepared for the wild and crazy weather we have here in Western New York during the Spring. Just know if an advisory, watch, or warning is issued, you should be prepared to act to stay safe.

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