Why does the sky turn yellow right before a bad storm/tornado?

Question

just curious, oh and were would u go in a tornado if there is no basement?

Answer 1

If the weather conditions in your area are right for a tornado to occur a watch will be issued. When a tornado is happening or will happen soon a warning will be issued. Once a tornado watch is issued you should make sure to stay tuned to your local news or listen to the weather radio to keep up to date with the current conditions in your local area. When a warning is issued in your area you should immediately get to a safe spot.

Find shelter immediately on the lowest floor of your home in an interior room. Basements or cellars are best, but if you don't have one, go to a closet or a bathroom, a small room without windows. If you can, cover yourself up with blankets or a mattress. Also try to take your radio with you so you can hear where the storm is and if the danger is over. In public buildings, try to find a sheltered area away from windows. A small room is best. If you're in a trailer home, get out and try to find a solidly built building or tornado shelter to hide in.

Answer 2

i thought before a tornado the sky turns green....but whatever if u dont have a basement go to the lowest part of ur home and hide in a closet or a bathtub

Answer 3

umm our sky turns grey before a storm or tornado.. where are you living!? i'm in winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada by the way  and i would go into a closet or bathroom if there wasn't a basement

Answer 4

First, to answer the most important part of your question, the safest place to go during a tornado (if no storm shelter or basement), is the lowest level of your house, in the center part, preferably in a closet.  Do not go in a room with windows or the outside walls - they're ALWAYS taken by the tornado.  Cover your head (your body too if possible), with pillows, blankets, or something cushiony like a mattress.  

The "greenage" which some times appears to look yellow, occurs in very strong storms which is a sign that the storm can contain large hail, damaging winds, and yes, even tornadoes.  When the sky turns an abnormal color during a storm you know it is strong, serious, and in some cases deadly.  Always listen to the radio and/or TV stations even if it is just raining because some storms can trick you and this is a common case that happens to many people and those people die.  After you hear a warning for your area, take shelter immediately - don't spend time listening to them talk.  If possible take a portable radio and a flashlight with you to your shelter (or place of covering from the storm).  

If you're driving and there is a tornado, DO NOT STAY IN THE CAR!  Get out and go in a ditch and lay completely flat on the ground.  Don't go under an over-pass because that is where people get sucked out, and debri tends to flow through.  If there is no ditch near, just don't stay in the car and go to the lowest area of land not near heavy objects or under trees (under a tree not only is there a risk for it to fall on top of you, you have an even higher risk of getting struck by lightning).  Good luck and stay safe (tornado season is officially here)!  =)

Answer 5

Jana,

I'm glad you asked this question because the answers helped me as well!.  We are in the midst of tornado season also.  Thanks everyone for your great responses!

Answer 6

the sky turns yellow or green or sometimes orange because the hail in the clouds bends the light towards the yellow, green, or orange part of the spectrum.

if you don't have a basement, go to a small central room on the lowest floor. bathrooms are excellent because of the plumbing in the walls. people have survived tornadoes hitting their house because they were curled up in the bathtub with blankets over them.

Answer 7

Hi Jana,

The sky turns yellow before or during a tornado because of 3 factors: They include the way the light is scattered, by particulates in the air (i.e. dust) and the time of day.

Often times tornadoes occur towards the end of the day. The sun sets to the west, therefore scattering light against the clouds (Kind of like a flashlight hitting a sheet).

There are particulates in the air at all times. These are called CCN-Cloud Condensation Nuclei. They are the basic structures of clouds. When light hits these particles they give off a different color of light. These are also the cause of beautiful sunsets.

Lastly the time of day makes a huge difference in the sky color. Depending on where the sun is, the sky could be black, blue or yellowish color.

Those 3 reasons are the basics of storm cloud color.