How Can you Tell Ifa Storm is Severe From your Backyard?

Question

We are havign a tornado warning. Although we have had them before, I wanna know if this is real. Are there any Tips or Signs I should know?

I Live In new York.

Answer 1

Be aware they are real !!!!!  you cant tell from your backyard.  I've seen a calm looking sky and within 30 sec the winds came and barbeques and bikes were flying thru the air.  I lived in flordia on the bay in st pete.

Answer 2

A tree crashing through your roof should give you a clue.

Answer 3

if you see one coming go to the basement...or if you dont have one go into your bathtub with pillows on the bottom and on top of you

Answer 4

If you see an old lady riding a bicycle in the sky, or a house flying by, get undercover now.

OK, seriously - if the wind is carrying debris of anything heavier than paper or leaves, take shelter NOW.

Or if you see tree branches getting peeled from the trees, or whole trees being uprooted.

Or if you see a section of the clouds rotating.  This is a classic sign that a tornado is forming right there.  Don't stick around to watch - it's possible that there's another one forming behind you.  Get into shelter right away.

Answer 5

If the sky has a greenish tint to it that is a sign that there is hail which can be a pre-cursor to a tornado.  You will also be able to see separate layers of the clouds moving in different directions.  Same can also be seen at ground level sometimes like watching a flag, it will change directions it is blowing.  Another good clue of an impending tornado coming at you is a particular type of cloud called a wall cloud.  Google wall cloud for pics.

Answer 6

As to tornadoes look for circulation, and air pressure changes. For how bad a storm is look for stacked clouds. As in a single cloud seems to grow in to the sky very far up. It is a cloud more likely to throw tornadoes since the way it is growing indicates differentiating air currents and pressures. Those can allow a tornado to grow and touch down.

Answer 7

A very warm or hot humid day is perfect for storms to form.  You can tell a storm is going to be bad if there is a dark, like a blue black or blue gray band of clouds headed your way with lightning behind it.  Often the clouds look like you can reach up and touch them.  The daylight looks like late evening and the wind starts to pick up.  There are a few close or overhead lightning strikes with some loud

thunder, Then the clouds lighten, but you can see them racing over head, then you see the that solid wall of rain coming at you.  Look out.

Large hail is another indicator of a possible tornado.  It doesn't mean one will form, but the likelyhood there will be one is increased, but weather does what it wants and a tornado can form as long as conditions are right.

Answer 8

funnels from the sky

greenish color to sky

deep dark black clouds

Lotta water falling, very heavy

your neighbor's roof airborne over your roof

Answer 9

If you're under a tornado WARNING, it means the National Weather Service has seen a funnel, and it IS real. They don't issue warnings when they just think it might happen. If they issue a tornado WATCH, it means there's nothing yet, but conditions are favorable.