With Skywarn, mostly we would observe from our locations, like at home. Only rarely does anyone actually deploy to a different location for observing, at least around here. I agree with the weather scientists. They don't want a bunch of tourists clogging up the roads and placing everyone in danger. The watches in order of increasing severity are:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch (tornadoes are possible)

Tornado Watch (Conditions are right for tornadoes)

PDS Watch (Particularly Danderous Situation), where conditions are such that large long track tornadoes are extremely likely, along with very large hail, and high velocity straight line winds, and frequent cloud to ground lightning.

Where I live, you have to pay attention to how the trees are behaving in the wind, due to lack of visibility.