The first alerts have been issued for Monday’s severe weather, with conditions making tornadoes a possibility.

Understanding the difference between a watch and a warning can help you stay safe when severe weather threatens. Here’s what the National Weather Service says about thunderstorm and tornado alerts.

When severe weather threatens, you’ll often hear alerts that can sound similar but mean very different things. The main difference comes down to watch vs. warning. A severe thunderstorm is officially defined as a storm that produces hail about the size of a quarter that is at least 1 inch in diameter,

As we get ready for possible severe weather, we want to make sure you stay up-to-date with the alerts from the National Weather Service.

Jimmy Fowler oversees how National Weather Service alerts are communicated across Southeast Texas, one of the nation's most weather-exposed regions.

It's a critical and fascinating process. All hands on deck at the Chicago Office of the National Weather Service, as 10 forecasters huddled throughout the night, as severe weather rolled through Chicagoland.

As spring approaches, the National Weather Service is launching its annual effort to prepare residents for the dangers of severe weather.

Damaging winds, small hail and tornadoes are possible in East Tennessee March 11. See the weather radar and track storm warnings, damage reports.

The storm could produce damaging wind gusts of 74 mph or higher, large hail, and tornadoes.