Tornadoes-Andy Bailey, National Weather Service, Pleasant Hill, MO.

This is Andy Bailey with the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Today I’m going to talk to you about tornadoes. 

Although tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, these destructive forces are nature of found most frequently in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, during the spring and summer months.  Locally here around Kansas City, we see most of our tornadoes during the months of April, May and June.
                              
Thunderstorms develop in warm, moist air in advance of eastward moving cold fronts and these are prime situations for thunderstorms to produce large hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. 

Now before we get to tornado safety rules, let’s talk about a few tornado facts.  The first one is a tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.  Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms within the funnel.  The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.  The average floor speed is about 30 miles an hour but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 miles an hour.  And the strongest tornadoes have rotating winds of more then 250 miles an hour.

Because tornadoes can be so devastating we need to know a few common safety rules.  First of all we tell people to get down to the lowest level of their workplace or home, into the basement if that’s possible.  If your home does not have a basement, get to an interior room such as a closet or bathroom. If possible, get under something sturdy such as a workbench, a stairwell or even a pool table down in a basement rec room.  You should take time to cover your neck and heads with a pillow or cushion off your couch if that is available.   Finally, keep in the shelter until after the storm has passed.  Never leave your shelter too soon to see what is going on.  If you’re in your vehicle when a tornado is approaching, abandon your vehicle at once.  If you’re caught outside and there is no safe shelter available, lie flat in the nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.  Be aware of flying debris, as it causes most of the fatalities and injuries.   Mobile homes, even if tied down offer little protection from tornadoes.  You should leave the mobile home and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or storm shelter if a warning is issued for your area. 

For more information on tornadoes, you can go to the National Weather website at: http://weather.gov/kc.