How do watches and warnings differ, and which weather alert is worse?

Springtime brings warmer weather, longer days and nature's awakening across much of the country. It also brings higher chances for tornadoes, large hail, flash floods and damaging winds — and that means more alerts about threatening forecasts, which often come in the form of watches and warnings. There is a distinct difference between the two, particularly when it comes to what they mean about taking action when the weather takes a turn for the worse.    

Conditions in spring are more favorable for these severe weather events, which happen more frequently and with greater intensity.