Definition: Meteorologists tracking Atlantic hurricanes like those that affect the Caribbean issue an official "hurricane watch" when hurricane conditions (a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph or higher) are possible within the geographic warning area within the next 36 hours.
Examples: The National Weather Service's hurricane watch for the Gulf Coast was changed to a hurricane warning as it became apparent that Hurricane Katrina's path would take the storm directly over the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts.
