SHELF CLOUD SIGNS OF A TORNADO TV

Avoid large, open spaces like gymnasiums, cafeterias, or warehouses.

If you are in a school, nursing home, hospital, or factory, go to the designated shelter area, which is usually the interior of the lowest floor. (Do not hide under your vehicle.) Plan now to find safe shelter. Avoid areas with many trees and vehicles. Cover your head to protect it from debris. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the closest ditch, ravine, or depression. If you are in a mobile home, a vehicle or outdoors when a tornado strikes, go to a safe building or other strong structure. Even mobile homes with tie-down systems twist and turn under the force of tornado winds.ĭO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO IN YOUR CAR! The least desirable place to be in a tornado is in a motor vehicle. They could fall through the floor if the tornado strikes your home.ĭO NOT STAY IN A MOBILE HOME DURING A TORNADO! Mobile homes can turn over during strong winds. Avoid taking shelter where there are heavy objects, such as refrigerators or freezers, on the area of floor that is directly above you. If possible cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag, or mattress, and protect your head with anything available – even your hands. For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. If your home does not have a basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement. Although there is no completely safe place during a tornado, some locations are much safer than others.ĪVOID WINDOWS. If you notice any of these weather conditions, TAKE SHELTER AT ONCE! Taking Shelterįlying debris causes most deaths and injuries during a tornado. A loud roar that sounds like a freight train.The following weather signs may mean that a tornado is approaching: It is important to know that you cannot depend on seeing a funnel: clouds or rain may block your view. TAKE SHELTER AT ONCE! Sometimes tornadoes develop so fast that you have little or no warning before they strike. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado funnel is sighted or indicated by weather radar. You should watch the weather and be prepared to take shelter immediately if conditions worsen.

SHELF CLOUD SIGNS OF A TORNADO TV

When a tornado watch is issued, you should stay tuned to local radio and TV stations. A battery-powered NOAA weather radio with an alarm function provides around-the-clock warning capacity.Ī tornado watch is issued when weather conditions favor the formation of tornadoes, such as, during a severe thunderstorm. Severe weather bulletins are issued on TV and radio by the National Weather Service. When there are thunderstorms in your area, turn on your radio or TV to get the latest emergency information from local authorities. On average, Arkansas has 19 tornados, 6 tornado related deaths, 80 tornado related injuries, and over 11 million dollars in property damage a year. As this unstable air moves upward at high speeds, it can suction up houses and trees and move them hundreds of feet.Ĭompared with the other states, Arkansas ranks number 16 for frequency of tornadoes, 4 for number of deaths, 5 for injuries, and 17 for cost of damages. The most destructive force in a tornado is the updraft in the funnel. The path of damage left behind by a tornado averages 9 miles long by 200 yards wide, but a severe tornado can damage an area up to 50 miles long and a mile wide. Tornados usually accompany severe thunderstorms. Tornadoes often move from the southwest toward northeast in Arkansas, but when on the ground, these storms can change direction without warning, randomly destroying homes and power lines, uprooting trees, and even hurling large objects – such as automobiles – over long distances. Tornadoes can travel for many miles with wind speeds of 200 miles per hour or more with an average ground speed of 30 to 40 mph. Tornado and Severe Weather Safety What is a Tornado?Ī tornado is a violent whirlwind – a rotating funnel of air descending from a thundercloud to the ground.

Shelf cloud signs of a tornado