KinwarnLearn
Tornado, storm and flash flood safety
Short, sourced answers to the questions people ask before and during severe weather. Every fact comes from the National Weather Service, the Storm Prediction Center or other government sources.
Watch vs. warning
A tornado watch means the weather could produce tornadoes in and near a large area over the next several hours, so get ready. A tornado warning means a tornado has been seen or shown on radar near you, so take shelter right away.
T-storm watch vs. warning
A severe thunderstorm watch means storms with large hail or damaging winds are possible over a wide area in the next several hours. A severe thunderstorm warning means a severe storm is happening or about to hit your area, so go inside a sturdy building now.
Flash flood warning
A flash flood warning means a fast, dangerous rise of water is happening or about to happen in the warned area. If you are in a place that floods, move to higher ground right away, and do not drive or walk into floodwater.
Flash flood safety
Move to higher ground right away if you are in an area that floods, and never drive or walk into floodwater. About 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult down, and about 12 inches can carry away most cars.
Tornado emergency
A tornado emergency is the most serious kind of tornado warning. The NWS uses it only in exceedingly rare cases, when a violent tornado capable of catastrophic damage is on the ground and is a severe threat to life. If one covers your area, take shelter immediately.
Tornado shelter
Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building and get into a basement or a small interior room with no windows, such as a closet or bathroom. Get down low and cover your head. Mobile homes and vehicles are not safe places to ride out a tornado.
Family storm plan
Agree on a shelter spot in each family home, decide who checks on whom, build a basic supply kit with medicines, plan for any medical devices that need power, and make sure every home has its own way to get warnings. Phone emergency alerts only reach phones in the warned area, so relatives far away need another way to keep watch.
EF scale
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale rates tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on the damage they cause. Each level matches an estimated 3-second wind gust, from 65 to 85 mph for EF0 to over 200 mph for EF5. The NWS assigns the rating after the storm by studying the damage.
Risk levels 1–5
The Storm Prediction Center rates the severe storm threat on a 1 to 5 scale: 1 Marginal, 2 Slight, 3 Enhanced, 4 Moderate, and 5 High. Higher levels mean more severe storms, stronger storms, or both. Even levels 1 and 2 can include a chance of tornadoes.
Reading radar
Look at three radar views. Reflectivity shows rain and hail, and a hook shape can signal a rotating storm. Velocity shows wind moving toward (green) and away from (red) the radar, and a tight red-green pair means strong rotation. A sharp drop in correlation coefficient at that same spot can mean a tornado is lifting debris.
Lightning safety
If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck. Go inside a substantial building with wiring or plumbing, or a hard-topped vehicle with the windows up, and stay there at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Getting warnings
Use more than one source. Wireless Emergency Alerts reach supported phones in the warned area for free, NOAA Weather Radio can sound an alarm inside the home, and local TV, radio, and weather apps add detail. Don't count on outdoor sirens to wake you or reach you indoors.
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