Tornadoes

A tornado is a violent whirlwind that usually develops in association with a severe thunderstorm. The winds in a tornado can exceed those measured in the most intense hurricanes. Wind speeds in an intense tornado are likely to rise above 200 miles per hour.

These violent winds are what make tornadoes so deadly — they can uproot and snap trees, down power lines, move or pick up cars and trucks, and destroy homes. The paths of tornadoes can be very short, or they can extend for many miles. Tornado ground speeds range from nearly stationary to over 50 mph.

Tornadoes that form over a body of water are called waterspouts.

Tornadoes in New Jersey can form in a variety of ways, and in all seasons. However, New Jersey tornadoes typically occur in the Spring and Summer months — March through August — and during hurricanes.

Tornadoes are a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting funnel-shaped cloud, typically spawned by severe thunderstorms or hurricanes.

• Build or identify a Safe-Room in your home. Although safe-rooms are the preferred method of protection, people in this area should consider using their basement. Stay away from windows, seek some type of sturdy protection (heavy table or workbench), or even cover yourself with a mattress.
• Contact your home or business insurance agent and complete an insurance check-up.
• Know the signs of a tornado (see next section).

Recognizing the warning signs of a tornado can save lives. Watch for:

• Strong persistent rotation in the cloud base.
• Whirling dust or debris on the ground or under a cloud base. Sometimes tornadoes do not have visible funnels!
• Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen.
• Day or night: Loud, continuous roar or rumble that doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder.
• Night: Small bright, blue, green, or white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning up in the clouds). These flashes mean power lines are being snapped by very strong wind and may indicate a tornado.
• Night: Persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated or silhouetted by lightning — especially if it touches the ground or there is a blue-green-white power flash underneath.