With a tornado watch issued for the West Central area on Monday, West Central Online reached out to Environment and Climate Change Canada about what to do if you see a funnel cloud or a tornado.  

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Sara Hoffman starts off explaining the difference between a watch and a warning. 

"The first thing to clarify is when we issue either a severe thunderstorm watches or tornado watch. It means all the ingredients are there. It's not necessarily occurring yet. When we issue a warning, we are aware it’s occurring.” 

Hoffman then described what to do when a tornado watch has been issued.  

“If you are in a location that is under a severe thunderstorm watch or a tornado watch during the summertime and you see big, dark clouds start to form, do not wait for the warning. Trust your gut, you've been made aware that the conditions are all there for sever weather. Get into a well-constructed building or safety of some kind, like a vehicle and make sure to get yourself to safety.” 

With warm weather settling into the West Central region, tornado watches should remain the norm. And, as Hoffman noted, the chance for severe weather should remain until the weather cools down in the fall.