When a tropical system is near the coast, the words watch and warning are not interchangeable. A watch is an early heads-up that conditions are possible. A warning means the hazard is expected, and preparations should move from planning to finishing.

The distinction matters now because the National Hurricane Center was issuing advisories for Atlantic Tropical Depression Two and Eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Fausto on Monday, July 20, 2026. Even if a system is still below hurricane strength, tropical-storm-force winds can make outdoor preparations difficult before the center arrives.

The National Weather Service says a tropical storm watch means sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are possible within the specified area, generally within 48 hours. A tropical storm warning means those conditions are expected within 36 hours.

The short answer

Use a watch to prepare your home, plans, prescriptions, devices and transportation. Use a warning to finish those steps, follow local instructions and avoid last-minute outdoor work.

What to check first

  • Your exact location: Watches and warnings are issued for specific coastal areas, counties, waters or forecast zones. Do not assume the alert covers an entire state.
  • Local instructions: NWS guidance says to listen to local officials and evacuate if told to do so. Evacuation orders, school closures and shelter openings come from local authorities.
  • Storm surge and flooding: A wind warning is not the whole storm. The NWS says storm surge watches and warnings cover the possibility or danger of life-threatening water moving inland from the shoreline.
  • Timing of first unsafe winds: The useful clock is not only landfall. The NHC issues watches and warnings ahead of tropical-storm-force winds because outdoor preparations can become unsafe before the strongest conditions arrive.
  • Power and communication: Charge phones, backup batteries and medical devices. FEMA's Ready.gov advises getting real-time alerts from the National Weather Service and preparing before conditions worsen.

Common mistakes

One mistake is waiting for a hurricane warning when a tropical storm warning already creates enough risk to stop outside work. Another is focusing only on the forecast cone. The NWS warns that tropical cyclone effects can extend hundreds of miles from the center, including inland flooding and tornado risk.

It is also easy to overlook a watch that later becomes a warning. If you are in a watch area, treat the next advisory time as a checkpoint: review the NHC public advisory, your local NWS office forecast and any local emergency-management updates.

When to get help

Use official sources for decisions. Check the National Hurricane Center at hurricanes.gov for storm advisories, weather.gov for local warnings and Ready.gov for preparation guidance. If local officials order an evacuation or tell you to shelter, follow that instruction rather than relying on a national map alone.