Movement is generally from southwest to northeast. The cloud associated with a tornado is a dark, thunderstorm cloud from which a whirling funnel-shaped pendent extends to or near the ground.
Rain usually precedes the tornado, frequently with hail, and as a heavy downpour.
A tornado watch is issued when the conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. The local National Weather Service will issue a watch bulletin to the local authorities, as well as the local media. Watches are not warnings. Until a warning is issued, you should not interrupt your normal routine except to stay tuned to the radio or television, and look for threatening weather. A warning gives the location of the tornado at the time of detection, the area through which it is expected to move, and the time period during which it will pass the area.