Signs Of Tornado Formation

Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base
Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base—this may indicate a tornado funnel that is still inside the cloud
Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can’t be seen
Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn’t fade in a few seconds like thunder. A tornado also may sound like a waterfall, trains, and jets
Night- Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm, opposed to lightning flashes or strikes. These mean power lines are being snapped by very strong wind, which may be a tornado (above information from http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/torscans.htm)


The sky may be a greenish black color.
Clouds moving by very rapidly, which indicates strong winds
Debris falling from the sky
A funnel cloud that hasn’t touched the ground yet is a huge sign of a tornado.
If weather forecasting is available it is advisable to watch the weather channel or listen to the radio if you notice any of the above signs outside. While you are listening to a forecast if you hear the weather reporter say that there is a tornado watch that means that conditions for a tornado are favorable and that your should be prepared in case there is a tornado warning. If a tornado warning is posted that means that a tornado has been spotted and that you should take shelter immediately.


Do You Recognize the 5 Warning Signs of Tornadoes?
What you need to know to recognize the warning signs of tornadoes.
Tornadoes are one of natures most destructive and deadly forces. The key to surviving a tornado is getting to safety before the tornado hits. I’m Rescue Worker Ryan and I’m going to be going over the 5 early warning signs of tornadoes so you’ll know what to look for before a tornado strikes.


Warning Signs of Tornadoes #1 -- Green Sky

Have you ever seen a sky get suddenly dark and greenish? That’s a sign that a tornado may be on its way. While a green sky alone doesn’t indicate that a tornado is definitely coming, it is one of the first signs that tornadoes give of their presence. If you see a green sky and you think that a tornado may be coming, you’ll want to check your local forecast and look for other signs of impending tornadoes.

Warning Signs of Tornadoes #2 -- Hail


Before a tornado appears, oftentimes hail will fall from the sky. The hail is usually larger in size, but can be smaller. If it’s a warm day and hail suddenly falls from the sky, seek cover. A tornado may be on the way.

Warning Signs of Tornadoes #3 -- Approaching Cloud of Debris
If you see an approaching cloud of debris, it means a tornado is on the way. Don’t wait to see a funnel. Take cover immediately. An approaching cloud of debris means that there’s little time to get to safety, so don’t wait.

Warning Signs of Tornadoes #4 -- Still and Quiet
Right before a tornado, the air may go suddenly still and quiet. Oftentimes people will think that a tornado is associated with raging winds and thunder and lightening. This isn’t always the case. Many times a tornado will be precipitated by quiet and stillness.

Warning Signs of Tornados #5 -- Tornado Sirens
Of course, if you hear the tornado sirens, it’s not just a sign that a tornado is on the way, it’s a definitive alarm that a tornado is coming and that you’d better take cover immediately.

If you notice one or more of the warning signs of tornadoes, it’s time to take cover. When it comes to tornadoes, it’s better to be safe than sorry and since you can’t outrun them, you’d better take cover from them.