A watch means the ingredients are there for severe weather. A warning means it is happening. But there are differences based on weather type.

Although the storm is expected to stay offshore, it will produce dangerous surf conditions for much of the Atlantic Coast this week, forecasters say.

Much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks region is under a tropical storm watch with Hurricane Erin expected to skirt the area Wednesday through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

An updated fire weather watch was released by the NWS Hanford CA on Monday at 7:50 p.m. valid from Wednesday 9 a.m. until Saturday 9 p.m. for Fort Tejon.

A tropical storm watch was issued by the NWS Wakefield VA on Tuesday at 11:06 a.m. in effect until 7:15 p.m. for Western Currituck.

On Saturday, the threat of heavy rain remains in place, with slow-moving storms once again likely to develop. The greatest flooding risk will be in the same areas—southern Midlands towards the Central Savannah River Area. Cloud cover and rainfall will hold temperatures down again.

At 2:08 p.m. on Friday, the NWS Spokane WA issued a fire weather watch valid from Monday noon until Tuesday 9 p.m. The watch is for East Washington Central Cascades, East Portion of North Cascades National Park / Lake Chelan National Recreation Area,

On Monday at 10:41 p.m. the NWS Newport/Morehead City NC released an updated tropical storm watch in effect until Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. for East Carteret.

According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes are possible along with isolated hail up to quarter-size.