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Spring 2019: Tornado Social Media

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Social Media: Tornado Safety
#SpringSafety #TornadoScience

 

Please help the National Weather Service spread these important safety messages on social media! Everyone is welcome to use the text and images provided below to help the NWS build a Weather-Ready Nation.

Tornado Terminology

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A tornado WATCH means BE PREPARED. A tornado WARNING means TAKE ACTION. If there is a tornado watch pay extra close attention to the weather and be ready to act, because tornadoes are possible. If there is a tornado warning, find shelter immediately, and move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, because a tornado is occurring or will shortly. Avoid windows and cover your head to protect yourself from flying debris. Acting early helps to save lives! weather.gov/safety/tornado-ww

Twitter
Watch means BE PREPARED. Warning means TAKE ACTION. weather.gov/safety/tornado-ww #SpringSafety

TORNADO TERMINOLOGY 1) Tornado Watch: Weather conditions could lead to the formation of severe storms and tornadoes. Be prepared! Know your safe location. Be ready to act quickly if a Warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. 2) Tornado Warning: A tornado has been spotted or indicated by weather radar, meaning a tornado is occurring or expected soon. Take Action! There is imminent danger to life and property. Immediately seek refuge in the safest location possible. 3) Tornado Emergency: An exceeding rare situation with a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage due to a confirmed violent tornado. Take Action! Immediately seek refuge in the safest location possible.

 

Overpass Safety

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During a tornado, seeking refuge in a vehicle or under an overpass is NOT safe. If you are in outside during a tornado warning, the best option is to drive to a designated shelter, basement or safe room. weather.gov/safety/tornado

Twitter
During a tornado, seeking refuge in a vehicle or under an overpass is NOT safe. If you are in outside during a tornado warning, the best option is to drive to a designated shelter, basement or safe room. weather.gov/safety/tornado #SpringSafety

TORNADOES AND ROAD SAFETY. 1) What To Do: Get off the road. The best option is to drive to a designated shelter, basement or safe room. The next best option is a small, windowless room or hallway on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. 2) What No To Do: Do not seek refuge in a vehicle, outside or under an overpass. A highway overpass does not provide safety from a tornado. Do not seek shelter under an overpass or a tree. This puts you at greater risk of being killed or seriously injured by flying debris from the powerful tornadic winds.

 

Why Do Tropical Storms Create Tornadoes?

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Tropical cyclones spawn tornadoes when certain instability and vertical shear criteria are met, in a manner similar to other tornado-producing systems. Almost all landfalling tropical cyclones spawn at least one tornado. Read more, and other facts about hurricanes and tornadoes, at prh.noaa.gov/cphc/pages/FAQ/Hurricanes_vs_tornadoes.php #TornadoScience

Twitter
Tropical cyclones spawn tornadoes when certain instability and vertical shear criteria are met, in a manner similar to other tornado-producing systems. Read more at prh.noaa.gov/cphc/pages/FAQ/Hurricanes_vs_tornadoes.php #TornadoScience

Why Do Tropical Storms Create Tornadoes? Instability and a strong vertical shear at low altitudes. Almost all U.S. tropical storms spawn at least one tornado.

 

Types of Tornadoes

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Supercells are not the only types of storms that develop tornadoes. Did you know that there are multiple types of tornadoes that can form? Learn all about them in the infographic below, and visit weather.gov/jetstream/tornado for more #TornadoScience

Twitter
Did you know that they are multiple types of tornadoes? Visit weather.gov/jetstream/tornado for more #TornadoScience

TYPES OF TORNADOES - Supercell Tornadoes: Tornadoes that come from a supercell thunderstorm are the most common, and often the most dangerous. A rotating updraft is a key to the development of a supercell, and eventually a tornado. There are many ideas about how this rotation begins. One way a column of air can begin to rotate is from wind shear – when winds at two different levels above the ground blow at different speeds or in different directions. Once the updraft is rotating and being fed by warm, moist air flowing in at ground level, a tornado can form. Landspouts: Landspouts, narrow, rope-like condensation funnels that form while the thunderstorm cloud is still growing and there is no rotating updraft. The spinning motion originates near the ground. Waterspouts: Waterspouts, similar to landspouts, except they occur over water. Gustnadoes: Gustnadoes, whirls of dust or debris at or near the ground with no condensation funnel, which form along the gust front of a storm. Dust Devils: A well-developed dust whirl; usually of short duration, rendered visible by dust, sand, and debris picked up from the ground. Dust devils are best developed on a hot, calm afternoon with clear skies, when intense surface heating causes large temperature differences in the lowest couple hundred feet of the atmosphere. Fire Whirls: Much like dust devils, the extreme heat of fires create strong updrafts, near the ground that interact with circulations in the lower atmosphere. Fire whirls are usually about 1 to 3 feet wide and 50 to 100 feet tall.

 

What is a Tornado?

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A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground and begins as a funnel cloud. On a local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena. nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/ #TornadoScience

Twitter
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. On a local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena. nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/ #TornadoScience

What is a Tornado? A narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground

 

Tornado Watch

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A tornado WATCH means BE PREPARED. If there is a tornado watch, tornadoes are possible! Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and are typically large, covering numerous counties and event states. Pay extra close attention to the weather and be ready to act. Preparing ahead of time helps to save lives! weather.gov/safety/tornado-ww #SpringSafety

Twitter
A tornado Watch means BE PREPARED. Preparation helps to save lives! weather.gov/safety/tornado-ww #SpringSafety

Tornado Watch means be prepared - a tornado is possible. Plan where to take shelter if needed. Have a way to get tornado warnings and updates. Stay weather-ready

 

Tornado Warning

Facebook
A tornado WARNING means TAKE ACTION NOW. If there is a tornado warning, a tornado is imminent or already occurring. Seek shelter immediately! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows and cover your head to protect yourself from flying debris. Take Action! Acting early helps to save lives! #SpringSafety weather.gov/safety/tornado-during

Twitter
A tornado WARNING means TAKE ACTION NOW and seek shelter immediately. weather.gov/safety/tornado-during #SpringSafety

Tornado Warning mean take action - a tornado is expected! Take shelter indoors immediately. If driving, find the nearest shelter. Check forecast updates

 

Tornado Warning Video

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If your area is under a tornado warning you may only have a few minutes to get to safety. Understand what to do if you’re in a tornado warning. #SpringSafety
youtu.be/_5TiTfuvotc

Twitter
What should you do during a tornado warning? youtu.be/_5TiTfuvotc #SpringSafety

 

After the Storm

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If you are impacted by tornado damage, there are a few important things to remember. Listen to local officials, stay up-to-date on the forecast, contact loved ones (to let them know you’re okay) and be mindful of debris (such as glass and nails) and downed power lines. Have available a working radio with batteries and use flashlights instead of candles to avoid starting fires. weather.gov/safety/tornado-after #SpringSafety

Twitter
If you are impacted by tornado damage, here are a few important things to remember. weather.gov/safety/tornado-after

After the Storm: check the forecast to make sure the threat has ended. Contact loved ones by text or social media. Listen to local officials.

 

Wireless Emergency Alerts

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Tornadoes occur at any time of day or night. The nighttime hours are particularly dangerous because most people are sleeping. Keep Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on your cell phone so you will be alerted in the event you’re in the path of a tornado. ready.gov/alerts #SpringSafety

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Keep Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on your cell phone. Find out more at ready.gov/alerts #SpringSafety

Wireless emergency alerts can save your life

 

NOAA Weather Radio

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Tornadoes occur at any time of day or night. The nighttime hours are particularly dangerous because most people are sleeping. A NOAA Weather Radio can alarm you when a Tornado Warning is issued. Keep the radio near your bed. You may not like getting woken up, but it could mean a life and death situation. nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ #SpringSafety

Twitter
Get severe weather warnings at night with a NOAA Weather Radio. nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ #SpringSafety

Test your NOAA Weather Radio. It could save your life.

 

Understanding Severe Weather Outlooks

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Do you know your risk for severe weather? See the severe weather outlooks issued by the Storm Prediction Center @NWSSPC #SpringSafety http://www.spc.noaa.gov/

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Know your risk for severe weather? See the Storm Prediction Center @NWSSPC http://www.spc.noaa.gov #SpringSafety

Understanding Severe Weather Outlooks - issued by the Storm Prediction Center. THUNDERSTORMS (no label - winds to 40 mph / small hail): No severe thunderstorms expected. Lightning/flooding threats exist with all thunderstorms. 1-MARGINAL (MRGL - winds 40-60 mph / hail up to 1 inch / low tornado risk): Isolated severe thunderstorms possible. Limited in duration and/or coverage and/or intensity. 2-SLIGHT (SLGT - one or two tornadoes / reports of strong winds, wind damage / hail 1 inch in general, 2 inches isolated): Scattered severe storms possible. Short-lived and/or not widespread, isolated intense storms possible. 3-ENHANCED (ENH - a few tornadoes / several reports of wind damage / damaging hail, 1-2 inches): Numerous severe storms possible. More persistent and/or widespread, a few intense 4-MODERATE (MDT - strong tornadoes / widespread wind damage / destructive hail, 2 inches plus): Widespread severe storms likely. Long-lived, widespread and intense 5-HIGH (HIGH - tornado outbreak / derecho): Widespread severe storms expected. Long-lived, very widespread and particulary intense.

 

What are the Hazards of Severe Weather?

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Tornadoes, large hail, strong winds, flooding, and lightning are all hazards associated with severe weather.  Severe weather has been reported in all 50 states, so no matter where you are, make sure you are prepared! weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm

Twitter
Severe weather can occur anywhere. Wherever you are, be prepared! weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm #SpringSafety

Understanding Severe Weather Hazards: TORNADO - tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that can destroy buildings and cause significant injury or death. ACTION: Take shelter immediately in a sturdy structure. LARGE HAIL - hail can damage vehicles, crops, buildings, and cause injuries. ACTION: Move indoors away from windows. STRONG WIND - strong wind can knock over trees and damage buildings. ACTION: Move indoors away from windows. HEAVY RAIN - Heavy rain can cause flash flooding. ACTION: Avoid rising creeks and water-covered roads. LIGHTNING - Lightning strikes can cause significant injury or death. ACTION: Move indoors if you hear thunder

 

Make a Plan

Facebook
Make a severe weather plan before you need it! Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance: how you will get to a safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations. To find out how, visit ready.gov/make-a-plan #SpringSafety Photo: FEMA

Twitter
How will you stay in touch during a disaster? Make a plan! ready.gov/make-a-plan #SpringSafety (photo @fema)

Pictured: A Family making a Severe Weather Plan

 

Tornado Watch vs. Warning Video

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What’s a watch? What’s a warning? Learn the difference between a tornado watch and warning in this short video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3V3HZBs1Y4

Twitter
Learn the difference between a tornado watch and warning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3V3HZBs1Y4 #SpringSafety