Tornado
Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. They originate from powerful thunderstorms and can cause widespread devastation, even fatalities, in mere seconds.
A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Tornadoes do not occur often in Orange County as in other parts of the country, but they do happen and every citizen must be informed and prepared against this hazard.
Know the difference…
Tornado Watch
Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
Tornado Warning
A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.
Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds obscure others. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible. Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.
Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
Learn more:
- Find a list of facts about tornadoes at FEMA’s disaster Web site.
- Get a severe weather primer on tornados and at the National Severe Storms Laboratory.
- Watch live weather cams and browse the weather library at the National Weather Center.
- See pictures of tornadoes and how they form in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Tornado Guide.
- Track weather patterns on an interactive map at the Weather Underground or The Weather Channel.
