If a tornado "watch" is issued for your area, it means that a tornado is "possible."

If a tornado "warning" is issued, it means it has actually been spotted, or is strongly indicated on rader and is time to go to a safe shelter immediately.

Debirs dropping rom the sky. An obvious "funnel-shaped" cloud that is rotating pattern or debris such branches of leaves being pulled upwords, Even if no funnel cloud is visible.

In Homes Or Other Small Buildings:

The best places are:

In a basement, away from the west and south walls. Hiding under a heavey work-table or under stairs will protect the family from crumbling walls. chimneys, large airborne debirs falling into the cellar.

In small, windowless, first floor, interior room like a closet or bathroom. the bathtub and commode are anchored directly onto the ground, and sometimes are the only thing left in place after the tornado. In a pinch, put a medel trash can over much of you as you can. it will keep flying debris from injuring you.

Be alert to is happening outside as well. Here are things people described about their tornado:

A Sickly greenish or greenish black color to the sky.

If there is a watch or warning posted, then the fall of hail should be consideed is a real danger sign.

A strange quiet that occurs within or shortly after the thunderstorm.

Clouds moving by very fast, especially in a rotating pattern.

A sound a little like a waterfall or rushing air at first, but then turning onto a roar as it comes closer, the sounds have been likened to that of a train or jet.

FACT: No place is safe from tornados. In the late 1980's, a tornado swept through Yellowstone National park leaving a path of destruction up and down a 10,000 ft. mountain.

MYTH; The low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to "explode" as the tornado passes overhead.

FACT: Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause most structurl damage.

MYTH: Windows should be opened befor a tornado approaches to equilize pressure and minimize damage.

FACT: Opening windows allows damaging winds to enter the structure. leave thee windows alone: instead immediately go to a safe place.

1. Befor thunderstorms develop. a change in wind direction and an increase in wind speed with increasing height creates an invisible, horizontal spinning effect in the lower atmosphere.

2. Rusing air within the thunderstorm updraft tilts the roating air from horizontal to vertical.

3. An area of rotation. 2-6 miles wide, now extends through much of the storm. Most strong and violent tornadoes from within this area of storng rotation.

4. A lower cloud base identifies an area of rotation known as a rotating wall c loud. This area is often nearly rain-free.

5. Moments later a storng torrnado develop in this area. Softball-size hail and damaging "straight-line" winds also occur within this storm.





Here is another Tornado Page