LAKE MICHIGAN/LAKE WINNEBAGO REGION – Much of Wisconsin is under a tornado watch until Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties are included in the weather alert, which is in effect through 6 p.m.
In a tornado watch, the environment is capable of producing tornadoes, and the NWS recommends creating a plan in case one forms so you can act quickly.
If a tornado is sighted or indicated on a radar, a tornado warning will be issued for the area and anyone indoors should take cover immediately in the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Anyone outdoors, in a vehicle or a mobile home should move to the closest sturdy shelter and take cover.
Manitowoc and Winnebago counties are also under a flood watch from 3 to 10 p.m., as flash flooding from excessive rainfall is possible July 16. According to the NWS, 2-3 inches of rainfall is possible.
Additionally, the four counties are under a Hazardous Weather Outlook for thunderstorms lasting into next week that could bring threats of damaging winds or floods.
Wisconsin weather radar
Wisconsin severe weather watches and warnings
What is flash flooding?
Flash flooding usually begins within six hours, but often within three hours, of heavy rain or mass amounts of water accumulating in an area, according to the National Weather Service.
This type of flooding usually happens very quickly and catches people off guard. It can be caused by a number of things, but is often due to extremely heavy rainfall from thunderstorms.
“The intensity of the rainfall, the location and distribution of the rainfall, the land use and topography, vegetation types and growth/density, soil type, and soil water-content all determine just how quickly the flash flooding may occur, and influence where it may occur,” writes the National Weather Service.
Flood watch vs. flood warning: What is the difference?
A flood watch and a flood warning are two different things. Here’s the difference.
A flood watch indicates that the conditions are favorable to flooding in an area that is under a watch. These flood watches are usually issued hours and even days ahead of the weather event that could cause the flooding.
A flood warning means that the flooding that could be harmful and poses a serious threat to property and people is expected. This too can be issued hours and days ahead of time based on forecast predictions.
Anytime flooding is a risk people should use caution. Water levels can change rapidly during periods of heavy rainfall.
What is a tornado watch?
When a tornado watch is in place tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service suggests people who are in the warning area review and discuss their emergency plans, check supplies and have a safe room incase the weather takes a turn for the worse.
What is a tornado warning?
When a tornado warning is issued it means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property.
Here are some suggestions from the National Weather Service if a tornado warning is issued for your area:
Warnings typically are for a much smaller area that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on radar, a trained spotter or law enforcement who is watching the storm, according to National Weather Service.
Tornado warnings are issued by your local forecast office.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Tornado, flood watches issued for multiple counties July 16
Reporting by Daphne Lemke, Fond du Lac Reporter / Fond du Lac Reporter
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