9/8/2017 Tornado Preparedness | NC State Extension Publications

Tornado Preparedness Disaster Preparedness

Tornadoes are violent windstorms characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. These naturally occurring phenomena can form as spin-offs of a hurricane or accompany a thunderstorm. While many tornadoes never touch ground or do not affect populated areas, those that do can cause significant property damage in a short time.

Although North Carolina has fewer tornadoes than the Midwest, we still face an average of 31 tornadoes a year. On March 28, 1984, tornadoes took the lives of 42 North Carolinians, and injured 801. On November 28, 1988, a single deadly tornado killed four and injured 154, leaving 982 homeless. This storm stayed on the ground for 83 miles on a path from Raleigh to Northampton County.

More recently in 2011, during the three-day period from April 14-16, more than 177 tornadoes erupted across the country. Thirty of those were confirmed in North Carolina, and left 22 dead in their wake.

In 2014, the National Weather Service issued 81 tornado warnings for North Carolina and recorded 36 tornadoes that killed one and injured 34 people. Combined, the tornadoes caused more than $22 million in damages in North Carolina.

Tornado Watch and Warning: What They Mean

Tornado Watch A tornado watch indicates that weather conditions may cause tornadoes to develop in your area. A watch does not mean that a tornado has been sighted. The watch may last up to 8 hours. You should be prepared for a possible tornado. You don’t need to move to a shelter, but keep a radio or TV, be alert for threatening weather conditions and have a safe shelter prepared and accessible.

Tornado Warning Local weather bureau offices issue tornado warnings when a tornado funnel has actually been sighted or indicated by Doppler radar. The warning covers a short period of time and specific small areas. The warning will indicate where the tornado was detected and the area through which it is expected to move. If you are in the expected path of the storm, take shelter immediately.

How to Spot a Tornado

Tornadoes are most common between March and June in North Carolina, although they may occur anytime of the year. Hurricanes may also spawn tornadoes.

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness 1/4 9/8/2017 Tornado Preparedness | NC State Extension Publications

It’s important to learn to recognize weather signs. Tornado weather is usually hot, humid and oppressive, with southerly winds. An hour or two before the storm, the clouds may have a greenish- black color, and may seem to bulge down instead of up. Rapidly moving lower clouds may be shot with lace-like lightning.

The funnel of a tornado looks like a spinning, twisting rope at its bottom, and fans out into a rotating funnel-shaped cloud extending down from the base of a thundercloud. It is usually gray or black. A nearby tornado usually sounds like the roar of a jet plane or a freight train.

Tornadoes usually move from southwest to northeast. They may form in a series of two or more, with a large primary tornado and one or more secondary or lesser storms. Heavy rain and hail may add to the damage of the tornado itself.

Some tornado funnels never touch ground. Some touch down, rise again, and touch down in another place.

Where to Go During a Tornado

Knowing what to do during a tornado may mean the difference between life and death. If you hear a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately. Stay away from windows.

In office buildings: Go to an interior hallway on a lower floor, preferably in the basement, or designated shelter area.

In factories: Go to the section of the plant offering the greatest protection. Someone should be responsible for disconnecting fuel lines and electric circuits. Keep a lookout posted.

In homes: Get to the lowest level of your home in an interior room as far away from exterior walls and windows as possible. If you have no basement, choose an inside wall away from windows and sit flat against it. Central halls, bathrooms and closets are good choices. Get under heavy furniture, if possible, to protect yourself from flying glass and debris. Then, stay away from windows. Keep tuned to a battery-powered radio for latest weather information.

In mobile homes: Go to the nearest community shelter or other sturdy building. Moble homes are especially dangerous during high winds and may be overturned. If you cannot get to a shelter or sturdy building, lie flat in the nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert, and cover your head with your hands.

In schools: Go to an interior hallway on the lowest floor. Avoid gymnasiums and buildings with large, free-span roofs.

In shopping centers: Go to a designated shelter area, or lie flat outside in a ditch or a low protected ground. Do not stay in your car. A tornado can pick it up and toss it.

In a car: If you are in the open country, lay flat in the nearest ditch, ravine or culvert, but not where you could be trapped by floodwaters. Do not take shelter under a bridge or overpass.

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness 2/4 9/8/2017 Tornado Preparedness | NC State Extension Publications

Tornado Survival Rules

Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.

Do not go outside to look for the tornado. Go to a below-ground location, if possible. If not, stay on the lowest level of your house. A storm cellar, root cellar, center laundry room, bathroom with no exterior walls or a center hallway in your house are possible choices. Stay away from windows. Do not run out into the street or turn into the path of the tornado. Wear shoes when you take cover.

Make sure you have something to cover up with. Pillows, rugs, blankets, sleeping bags, or a mattress could help to protect you from falling/flying debris. Above all protect your head, neck and upper body. Wear a helmet (bicycle, football, baseball, motorcycle, hard hat, etc) if you have one.

Listen to instructions on a battery-powered radio. Beware of possible dangers:

Flying objects

Falling trees

Breaking windows

Collapsing buildings

Practice a Family Tornado Drill

At home, have a family tornado plan in place and practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds and make sure that everyone knows where to go. Make sure that your disaster kit is available and that your shelter area is prepared. Keeping items like extra shoes and helmets in your shelter area is a good idea. Have a pre-determined place to meet after a disaster.

For More Information

For more information on disaster preparedness and recovery visit the NC Disaster Information Center (http://ncdisaster.com).

Publication date: June 4, 2014

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness 3/4 9/8/2017 Tornado Preparedness | NC State Extension Publications

North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

This publication printed on: Sept. 08, 2017 URL of this page (http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness)

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness 4/4 9/8/2017 Tornado Preparedness | NC State Extension Publications

Tornado Preparedness Disaster Preparedness

Tornadoes are violent windstorms characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. These naturally occurring phenomena can form as spin-offs of a hurricane or accompany a thunderstorm. While many tornadoes never touch ground or do not affect populated areas, those that do can cause significant property damage in a short time.

Although North Carolina has fewer tornadoes than the Midwest, we still face an average of 31 tornadoes a year. On March 28, 1984, tornadoes took the lives of 42 North Carolinians, and injured 801. On November 28, 1988, a single deadly tornado killed four and injured 154, leaving 982 homeless. This storm stayed on the ground for 83 miles on a path from Raleigh to Northampton County.

More recently in 2011, during the three-day period from April 14-16, more than 177 tornadoes erupted across the country. Thirty of those were confirmed in North Carolina, and left 22 dead in their wake.

In 2014, the National Weather Service issued 81 tornado warnings for North Carolina and recorded 36 tornadoes that killed one and injured 34 people. Combined, the tornadoes caused more than $22 million in damages in North Carolina.

Tornado Watch and Warning: What They Mean

Tornado Watch A tornado watch indicates that weather conditions may cause tornadoes to develop in your area. A watch does not mean that a tornado has been sighted. The watch may last up to 8 hours. You should be prepared for a possible tornado. You don’t need to move to a shelter, but keep a radio or TV, be alert for threatening weather conditions and have a safe shelter prepared and accessible.

Tornado Warning Local weather bureau offices issue tornado warnings when a tornado funnel has actually been sighted or indicated by Doppler radar. The warning covers a short period of time and specific small areas. The warning will indicate where the tornado was detected and the area through which it is expected to move. If you are in the expected path of the storm, take shelter immediately.

How to Spot a Tornado

Tornadoes are most common between March and June in North Carolina, although they may occur anytime of the year. Hurricanes may also spawn tornadoes.

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness 1/4 9/8/2017 Tornado Preparedness | NC State Extension Publications

It’s important to learn to recognize weather signs. Tornado weather is usually hot, humid and oppressive, with southerly winds. An hour or two before the storm, the clouds may have a greenish- black color, and may seem to bulge down instead of up. Rapidly moving lower clouds may be shot with lace-like lightning.

The funnel of a tornado looks like a spinning, twisting rope at its bottom, and fans out into a rotating funnel-shaped cloud extending down from the base of a thundercloud. It is usually gray or black. A nearby tornado usually sounds like the roar of a jet plane or a freight train.

Tornadoes usually move from southwest to northeast. They may form in a series of two or more, with a large primary tornado and one or more secondary or lesser storms. Heavy rain and hail may add to the damage of the tornado itself.

Some tornado funnels never touch ground. Some touch down, rise again, and touch down in another place.

Where to Go During a Tornado

Knowing what to do during a tornado may mean the difference between life and death. If you hear a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately. Stay away from windows.

In office buildings: Go to an interior hallway on a lower floor, preferably in the basement, or designated shelter area.

In factories: Go to the section of the plant offering the greatest protection. Someone should be responsible for disconnecting fuel lines and electric circuits. Keep a lookout posted.

In homes: Get to the lowest level of your home in an interior room as far away from exterior walls and windows as possible. If you have no basement, choose an inside wall away from windows and sit flat against it. Central halls, bathrooms and closets are good choices. Get under heavy furniture, if possible, to protect yourself from flying glass and debris. Then, stay away from windows. Keep tuned to a battery-powered radio for latest weather information.

In mobile homes: Go to the nearest community shelter or other sturdy building. Moble homes are especially dangerous during high winds and may be overturned. If you cannot get to a shelter or sturdy building, lie flat in the nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert, and cover your head with your hands.

In schools: Go to an interior hallway on the lowest floor. Avoid gymnasiums and buildings with large, free-span roofs.

In shopping centers: Go to a designated shelter area, or lie flat outside in a ditch or a low protected ground. Do not stay in your car. A tornado can pick it up and toss it.

In a car: If you are in the open country, lay flat in the nearest ditch, ravine or culvert, but not where you could be trapped by floodwaters. Do not take shelter under a bridge or overpass.

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness 2/4 9/8/2017 Tornado Preparedness | NC State Extension Publications

Tornado Survival Rules

Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.

Do not go outside to look for the tornado. Go to a below-ground location, if possible. If not, stay on the lowest level of your house. A storm cellar, root cellar, center laundry room, bathroom with no exterior walls or a center hallway in your house are possible choices. Stay away from windows. Do not run out into the street or turn into the path of the tornado. Wear shoes when you take cover.

Make sure you have something to cover up with. Pillows, rugs, blankets, sleeping bags, or a mattress could help to protect you from falling/flying debris. Above all protect your head, neck and upper body. Wear a helmet (bicycle, football, baseball, motorcycle, hard hat, etc) if you have one.

Listen to instructions on a battery-powered radio. Beware of possible dangers:

Flying objects

Falling trees

Breaking windows

Collapsing buildings

Practice a Family Tornado Drill

At home, have a family tornado plan in place and practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds and make sure that everyone knows where to go. Make sure that your disaster kit is available and that your shelter area is prepared. Keeping items like extra shoes and helmets in your shelter area is a good idea. Have a pre-determined place to meet after a disaster.

For More Information

For more information on disaster preparedness and recovery visit the NC Disaster Information Center (http://ncdisaster.com).

Publication date: June 4, 2014

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness 3/4 9/8/2017 Tornado Preparedness | NC State Extension Publications

North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

This publication printed on: Sept. 08, 2017 URL of this page (http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness)

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-preparedness 4/4 9/8/2017 Tornado Safety for Schools | NC State Extension Publications

Tornado Safety for Schools Disaster Preparedness Preparing for Disaster

All schools should develop a tornado safety plan unique to their needs and should conduct regular tornado drills. School officials need to be especially cautious during hurricane season. Tornadoes often occur on the outer fringes of tropical storms and hurricanes. School officials who are familiar with precautions to take if a tornado occurs can better safeguard children at their schools.

Understand Watches and Warnings

The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when a tornado is possible and a tornado warning when a tornado has been spotted or indicated by Doppler radar. But there may not be time for a tornado warning before a twister strikes. Tornadoes form suddenly. Teachers and students should know the difference between a watch and a warning.

Have a Plan

School officials should have a plan for rapidly informing every school in the system of tornado watches and warnings, either by radio or telephone.

Know Each Building

Each school should be inspected and tornado shelter areas should be designated. Schools with basements should use these as shelters; otherwise, use interior hallways on the ground floor. Never use gymnasiums, auditoriums or other rooms with wide, free-span roofs. Teachers and students should know their designated shelter area.

Children in less sturdy schoolrooms, such as portable or temporary classrooms, should be escorted to sturdier buildings or to selected ditches, culverts or ravines, and instructed to lie down, hands over head. Most tornado deaths are caused by head injuries.

A special alarm system should be designated to indicate a tornado has been sighted and is approaching.

Have a Bus Policy

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-safety-for-schools 1/3 9/8/2017 Tornado Safety for Schools | NC State Extension Publications

School administrators should establish procedures governing use of school buses during tornado watches and warnings. Generally speaking, school buses should continue to operate during tornado watches, but not during tornado warnings. School buses are easily rolled by tornado winds.

Assign Emergency Roles

During a tornado watch, specified adults should monitor commercial radio or TV for tornado warnings, even if the school has a NOAA Weather Radio tone alert system. Weather spotters also should keep an eye on the sky for dark clouds, hail, driving rain or a sudden increase in wind, in addition to the tell-tale funnel. Tornadoes are often obscured by precipitation or darkness. Other public agencies and local news outlets also report tornado sightings.

Specified teachers should be assigned to round up children on playgrounds or other outdoor areas during a tornado warning. Otherwise, they might be overlooked.

Use an Alarm System

Designate a special alarm system to indicate a tornado has been sighted and is approaching. A backup alarm should be planned for use if electrical power fails perhaps a battery-operated bullhorn, a hand-cranked siren, or even an old-fashioned hand-swung bell.

Have Emergency Procedures and Conduct Drills

When children are assembled in school basements or interior hallways during a tornado drill or warning, they should be instructed to respond to a specific command to assume protective postures and to face interior walls when the danger is imminent.

Such a command might be, “Everybody down! Crouch on elbows and knees! Hands over the back of your head!” It is essential that this command be instantly understood and obeyed. Illustrations showing the protective position should be posted on bulletin boards.

If a school bus is caught in the open when a tornado is approaching, the children should be escorted to a nearby ditch or ravine and made to lie face down, hands overhead. They should be far enough away so the bus cannot topple on them. Bus drivers should be regularly drilled in tornado procedures.

For More Information

For more information on tornado preparedness for schools, visit Tornado Preparedness for School Administrators (http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/school.html).

For more information on disaster preparedness and recovery visit the NC Disaster Information Center (http://ncdisaster.com).

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-safety-for-schools 2/3 9/8/2017 Tornado Safety for Schools | NC State Extension Publications

Publication date: June 4, 2014

North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

This publication printed on: Sept. 08, 2017 URL of this page (http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-safety-for-schools)

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-safety-for-schools 3/3 9/8/2017 Tornado Safety for Schools | NC State Extension Publications

Tornado Safety for Schools Disaster Preparedness Preparing for Disaster

All schools should develop a tornado safety plan unique to their needs and should conduct regular tornado drills. School officials need to be especially cautious during hurricane season. Tornadoes often occur on the outer fringes of tropical storms and hurricanes. School officials who are familiar with precautions to take if a tornado occurs can better safeguard children at their schools.

Understand Watches and Warnings

The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when a tornado is possible and a tornado warning when a tornado has been spotted or indicated by Doppler radar. But there may not be time for a tornado warning before a twister strikes. Tornadoes form suddenly. Teachers and students should know the difference between a watch and a warning.

Have a Plan

School officials should have a plan for rapidly informing every school in the system of tornado watches and warnings, either by radio or telephone.

Know Each Building

Each school should be inspected and tornado shelter areas should be designated. Schools with basements should use these as shelters; otherwise, use interior hallways on the ground floor. Never use gymnasiums, auditoriums or other rooms with wide, free-span roofs. Teachers and students should know their designated shelter area.

Children in less sturdy schoolrooms, such as portable or temporary classrooms, should be escorted to sturdier buildings or to selected ditches, culverts or ravines, and instructed to lie down, hands over head. Most tornado deaths are caused by head injuries.

A special alarm system should be designated to indicate a tornado has been sighted and is approaching.

Have a Bus Policy

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-safety-for-schools 1/3 9/8/2017 Tornado Safety for Schools | NC State Extension Publications

School administrators should establish procedures governing use of school buses during tornado watches and warnings. Generally speaking, school buses should continue to operate during tornado watches, but not during tornado warnings. School buses are easily rolled by tornado winds.

Assign Emergency Roles

During a tornado watch, specified adults should monitor commercial radio or TV for tornado warnings, even if the school has a NOAA Weather Radio tone alert system. Weather spotters also should keep an eye on the sky for dark clouds, hail, driving rain or a sudden increase in wind, in addition to the tell-tale funnel. Tornadoes are often obscured by precipitation or darkness. Other public agencies and local news outlets also report tornado sightings.

Specified teachers should be assigned to round up children on playgrounds or other outdoor areas during a tornado warning. Otherwise, they might be overlooked.

Use an Alarm System

Designate a special alarm system to indicate a tornado has been sighted and is approaching. A backup alarm should be planned for use if electrical power fails perhaps a battery-operated bullhorn, a hand-cranked siren, or even an old-fashioned hand-swung bell.

Have Emergency Procedures and Conduct Drills

When children are assembled in school basements or interior hallways during a tornado drill or warning, they should be instructed to respond to a specific command to assume protective postures and to face interior walls when the danger is imminent.

Such a command might be, “Everybody down! Crouch on elbows and knees! Hands over the back of your head!” It is essential that this command be instantly understood and obeyed. Illustrations showing the protective position should be posted on bulletin boards.

If a school bus is caught in the open when a tornado is approaching, the children should be escorted to a nearby ditch or ravine and made to lie face down, hands overhead. They should be far enough away so the bus cannot topple on them. Bus drivers should be regularly drilled in tornado procedures.

For More Information

For more information on tornado preparedness for schools, visit Tornado Preparedness for School Administrators (http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/school.html).

For more information on disaster preparedness and recovery visit the NC Disaster Information Center (http://ncdisaster.com).

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-safety-for-schools 2/3 9/8/2017 Tornado Safety for Schools | NC State Extension Publications

Publication date: June 4, 2014

North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

This publication printed on: Sept. 08, 2017 URL of this page (http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-safety-for-schools)

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornado-safety-for-schools 3/3 9/8/2017 Tornadoes | NC State Extension Publications

Tornadoes Disaster Preparedness Preparing for Disaster

Tornadoes strike with incredible velocity. Wind speeds may approach 300 miles per hour. These winds can uproot trees and structures and turn harmless objects into deadly missiles, all in a matter of seconds. Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to tornadoes.

North Carolina has an average of 31 tornadoes a year. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas are the states at greatest risk.

Emergency Information

The best protection during a tornado is in an interior room on the lowest level of a building, preferably a basement or storm cellar.

Tornadoes are measured using the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale, or the EF-scale. This scale ranks tornadoes 0-5, based on the wind estimates of a tornado, based on damage across 28 different types of tornado indicators.

Injury or deaths most often occur when buildings collapse, people are hit by flying objects or people are caught in a car.

Tornadoes are most destructive when they touch ground. Normally, a tornado will stay on the ground for no more than 20 minutes; however, one tornado can touch ground several times in different areas.

What Is a Tornado?

A tornado is a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. It is spawned by a thunderstorm or a hurricane. Tornadoes occur when cool air overrides a layer of warm air, forcing the warm air to rise rapidly. The damage results from high wind velocities and wind-blown debris.

Tornadoes are most common between March and June in North Carolina, although they may occur anytime of the year. In 2011, 1,690 tornadoes were reported in the United States; the first occurred on Jan. 1, while the last was reported on Dec. 22. Tornadoes tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings. Over 80 percent of all tornadoes strike between noon and midnight.

Did You Know...

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornadoes 1/3 9/8/2017 Tornadoes | NC State Extension Publications

Tornadoes can be nearly invisible, marked only by swirling debris at the base of the funnel. Some are composed almost entirely of windblown dust and others are composed of several mini-funnels.

On average, the United States experiences 100,000 thunderstorms each year. Approximately 1,000 tornadoes develop from these storms.

Although tornadoes do occur throughout the world, the United States experiences the most intense and devastating tornadoes.

Tornadoes produce the most violent winds on earth. Tornado winds can approach speeds as high as 300 miles per hour, travel distances of over 100 miles and reach heights of over 60,000 feet above ground.

In May 2011, a tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people and causing $2.8 billion in damage.

In April 2011, during a three-day period, more than 177 tornadoes were spawned across 16 states, including North Carolina where 30 tornadoes caused 22 deaths.

According to the National Weather Service, about 42 people are killed because of tornadoes each year.

In 2014, the National Weather Service issued 81 tornado warnings for North Carolina and recorded 36 tornadoes that killed one and injured 34 people. Combined, the tornadoes caused more than $22 million in damages in North Carolina.

For More Information

For more information on disaster preparedness and recovery visit the NC Disaster Information Center (http://ncdisaster.com).

Publication date: June 4, 2014

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornadoes 2/3 9/8/2017 Tornadoes | NC State Extension Publications

North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

This publication printed on: Sept. 08, 2017 URL of this page (http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornadoes)

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornadoes 3/3 9/8/2017 Tornadoes | NC State Extension Publications

Tornadoes Disaster Preparedness Preparing for Disaster

Tornadoes strike with incredible velocity. Wind speeds may approach 300 miles per hour. These winds can uproot trees and structures and turn harmless objects into deadly missiles, all in a matter of seconds. Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to tornadoes.

North Carolina has an average of 31 tornadoes a year. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas are the states at greatest risk.

Emergency Information

The best protection during a tornado is in an interior room on the lowest level of a building, preferably a basement or storm cellar.

Tornadoes are measured using the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale, or the EF-scale. This scale ranks tornadoes 0-5, based on the wind estimates of a tornado, based on damage across 28 different types of tornado indicators.

Injury or deaths most often occur when buildings collapse, people are hit by flying objects or people are caught in a car.

Tornadoes are most destructive when they touch ground. Normally, a tornado will stay on the ground for no more than 20 minutes; however, one tornado can touch ground several times in different areas.

What Is a Tornado?

A tornado is a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. It is spawned by a thunderstorm or a hurricane. Tornadoes occur when cool air overrides a layer of warm air, forcing the warm air to rise rapidly. The damage results from high wind velocities and wind-blown debris.

Tornadoes are most common between March and June in North Carolina, although they may occur anytime of the year. In 2011, 1,690 tornadoes were reported in the United States; the first occurred on Jan. 1, while the last was reported on Dec. 22. Tornadoes tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings. Over 80 percent of all tornadoes strike between noon and midnight.

Did You Know...

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornadoes 1/3 9/8/2017 Tornadoes | NC State Extension Publications

Tornadoes can be nearly invisible, marked only by swirling debris at the base of the funnel. Some are composed almost entirely of windblown dust and others are composed of several mini-funnels.

On average, the United States experiences 100,000 thunderstorms each year. Approximately 1,000 tornadoes develop from these storms.

Although tornadoes do occur throughout the world, the United States experiences the most intense and devastating tornadoes.

Tornadoes produce the most violent winds on earth. Tornado winds can approach speeds as high as 300 miles per hour, travel distances of over 100 miles and reach heights of over 60,000 feet above ground.

In May 2011, a tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people and causing $2.8 billion in damage.

In April 2011, during a three-day period, more than 177 tornadoes were spawned across 16 states, including North Carolina where 30 tornadoes caused 22 deaths.

According to the National Weather Service, about 42 people are killed because of tornadoes each year.

In 2014, the National Weather Service issued 81 tornado warnings for North Carolina and recorded 36 tornadoes that killed one and injured 34 people. Combined, the tornadoes caused more than $22 million in damages in North Carolina.

For More Information

For more information on disaster preparedness and recovery visit the NC Disaster Information Center (http://ncdisaster.com).

Publication date: June 4, 2014

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornadoes 2/3 9/8/2017 Tornadoes | NC State Extension Publications

North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

This publication printed on: Sept. 08, 2017 URL of this page (http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornadoes)

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tornadoes 3/3