Here is a great article by the Nation Weather Service explaining the definitions between watch and warnings.  They also list helpful links such as how to find your local forecast office.  Check out the full article here

What is the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service?

• Tornado Watch: Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives! Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.

• Tornado Warning: Take Action! A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on Radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.

• Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Be Prepared! Severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued. Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where severe thunderstorms may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.

• Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Take Action! Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Take shelter in a substantial building. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or county) that may be impacted by an on-going severe thunderstorm.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain. This winter we have experienced them all, but what is the science behind them?

When it comes to how precipitation falls, it all depends on the air temperature.  Think of the atmosphere as sectioned into three different layers of temperature. If the first layer is below freezing, then precipitation begins as snow, and the air temperature of the layers below determines what form of precipitation will fall to the ground, either snow, sleet or freezing rain.

Snow occurs when the temperature is below freezing in every layer, causing the snow to directly fall to the ground.

Sleet occurs when there is a layer of warm air in between two layers of freezing air.  When the snow falls into this middle layer, it melts and turns to water.  This water then falls through the bottom layer and re-freezes before reaching the ground surface.

Freezing rain is formed the same way sleet occurs, however, with freezing rain, the layer of warm air is much thicker and when the snow melts it does not have time to re-freeze before hitting the ground.  This results in the liquid water freezing on contact with the ground or any object it comes in contact with.  It produces clear ice on surfaces and is also known as glaze ice.

Freezing rain, when falling for an extended time, has the potential to cause large amounts of damage due to the increased weight the forming ice can add to the object it forms on.   When it forms on trees and power lines it can cause them to sag and eventually break from the increased weight.