Tornado Season is Here: Are You Cyclone-Safe? (Part One)

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. 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.*

Just this month, a record twelve tornadoes touched down in North Texas with little warning, injuring 10 people and causing considerable damage. Days later, storms and tornadoes ripped though the northwest Oklahoma town of Woodward, destroying more than 100 homes and businesses.

With Tornado Season upon us, it is crucial that we be prepared and stay informed. Stay tuned, our next post will discuss what you and your family can do before a tornado to get ready.

Did You Know?

• Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 pm and 9 pm, but can occur at any time.
• Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer.
• Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.
• They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
• The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
• The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.
• Tornadoes can form over water, creating what is called a Waterspout.*

*Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency