Severe storms swept through Indiana on Wednesday, February 19, 2026, bringing with them the potential for tornadoes. As conditions ripened for severe weather, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued alerts to inform the public, prompting a crucial reminder: understanding the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning can be life-saving.
Indiana is now considered part of “Tornado Alley,” increasing the risk of these destructive storms and making preparedness more important than ever. The NWS utilizes watches and warnings to communicate varying levels of threat, but these terms are often confused.
What Does a Tornado Watch Mean?
A tornado watch signifies that atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in a specific area. These conditions typically involve instability – warm, moist air near the ground combined with cooler, drier air aloft – and wind shear, which refers to changes in wind speed and direction with height. These factors can create rotating updrafts within thunderstorms, potentially leading to tornado formation.
Watches generally cover larger areas, encompassing multiple counties or even states, and can last for several hours. During a tornado watch, it’s essential to be prepared. In other words reviewing your safety plan, monitoring weather updates, and being ready to take action if conditions worsen.
What Does a Tornado Warning Mean?
In contrast to a watch, a tornado warning indicates that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar, posing an immediate threat to life, and property. This means a tornado is happening *now* or is imminent.
Warning areas are typically smaller than those within a watch and are issued for a shorter time period, typically about 15 minutes. Warnings are issued when trained spotters or law enforcement confirm a tornado on the ground, or when Doppler radar detects patterns indicative of a tornado – known as tornadic vortex signatures.
How to Remember the Difference
IndyStar offered a helpful analogy to distinguish between the two: think of making a pork tenderloin sandwich. A watch means all the ingredients are present – the conditions are right for a tornado to form – but the sandwich isn’t assembled yet. A warning, however, means the sandwich is fully assembled; a tornado has been confirmed or is highly likely.
Staying Safe During a Tornado
Tornadoes can develop rapidly, making advance planning crucial. The National Weather Service provides a comprehensive preparedness guide for all types of severe weather, including tornadoes.
Here are some key safety rules to follow when a tornado strikes:
- Move to a basement or safe room.
- If there’s no basement, find a windowless interior room or hallway.
- Leave mobile homes and seek shelter in the closest sturdy building.
- If outdoors, get into a vehicle, buckle up, and drive to a sturdy building.
Contributing: IndyStar reporter Jade Jackson.
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter.
