The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when tornadoes are possible in your area. This is a good time to remind family members and coworkers of the safest locations in your home or building or to develop a plan of what to do in the event of a storm. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. When a tornado is coming, you only have a short amount of time to get to safety. An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.
Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm.
It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado. Listen for loud roar, similar to a freight train. What to Do in a Tornado Go to a basement, storm cellar or the lowest level of the building. If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or smaller room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. Stay away from corners because they tend to attract debris.