document: Rumbling spring thunderstorms have announced the beginning of the unofficial tornado season that runs from April through June across Texas and other Tornado Alley states in the nation 's heartland . From 1951 through 1986 , there have been an average of 118 tornadoes in Texas per year , according to the state climatologist 's office in College Station . More than 60 percent of those occur between April and June , records show . In April and June an average of 18 to 19 tornadoes occur each month , but in May , when weather conditions are the most unstable , that average increases to about 36 . A few twisters were already recorded in early March in Texas but they did little or no damage . A tornado that touched down Tuesday in central Louisiana , near Bunkie , destroyed two brick homes . `` People should have plans of what they 'll do in tornadoes . If they wait until it gets there , it 's going to be too late , '' said Buddy McIntyre , a forecaster with the National Weather Service . Last May 22 , a killer storm flattened the small West Texas town of Saragosa , killing 30 people and injuring 162 . In mid-November , 11 people died in East Texas when a series of tornadoes trashed towns from Cherokee County to the Gulf Coast . `` A tornado is such a devastating kind of storm . No matter how much preparation you do there is some property damage and some loss of life . But there are some things you can do to protect yourself and property , '' said Laureen Chernow , a spokeswoman for the governor 's division of emergency management . One is to know the difference between the tornado watches and tornado warnings issued by the weather service . A watch means weather conditions are suitable for development of a tornado , and people should keep a careful lookout for potential funnel clouds . A tornado warning means one has already developed and has been spotted . Take cover immediately and do n't go outside , but if you are in a car or mobile home you will be safer taking cover in the nearest ditch or depression . At home , the best place to stay is a basement or underground storm shelter . If no such shelter is available , go inside a closet in the center of the house or bathroom or lie flat under a heavy table . McIntyre noted that most fatalities in a tornado are from flying debris , so `` we tell people to squat down , cover their heads and present a low profile . '' James R. McDonald , director of the Institute for Disaster Research at Texas Tech University , says many people mistakenly try to outrun tornadoes in their cars . During the 1979 Wichita Falls tornado that killed 53 , McDonald said , `` people jumped in their cars and drove down Main Street at 90 mph . '' Twenty-six people died while trying to outrun the twister . Another misconception is about opening windows . It was once believed that windows needed to be open to equalize air pressure between the storm and the inside of a house to prevent the house from exploding . McIntyre said there are enough natural openings in a house to equalize air pressure , and `` if that tornado wants to open your windows , it 'll do that for you . ''
extractive_keyphrases: tornado season spring thunderstorms tornadoes texas property damage tornado warning tornado watches disaster research