Twenty of the most common tornado questions, answered by real research and NWS data.
The average tornado forward speed is 30 mph, but violent tornadoes can exceed 60 mph. The 1925 Tri-State tornado averaged 62 mph. The 2013 El Reno tornado accelerated from 25 mph to 55 mph in seconds.
Tornado winds range from 65 mph (EF0) to over 300 mph in the most violent examples. The Bridge Creek–Moore 1999 tornado was measured at 301 mph — the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth.
Most tornadoes last less than 10 minutes. Weak EF0s may only last 30 seconds. The 1925 Tri-State tornado stayed on the ground for 3.5 hours — the longest confirmed duration.
Most tornadoes are less than a quarter-mile wide. The widest ever recorded (El Reno 2013) was 2.6 miles.
Four ingredients: warm moist air near the ground, cold dry air aloft, strong wind shear, and a trigger. These come together in supercell thunderstorms. Full explanation →
Peak: April–June nationally. Dixie Alley has a secondary peak in November–December. Full regional breakdown →
Texas leads with ~140/year. Kansas is #2 (~95/year) and has the highest tornadoes-per-square-mile ratio. Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Florida round out the top 5. Full Tornado Alley guide →
Yes. Tornadoes have struck downtown Waco (1953), Miami (1997), Nashville (2020), Fort Worth (2000), and many others. Cities are just a small fraction of the landscape, so most tornadoes miss them by chance.
Yes. Tornadoes routinely cross rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. The 1925 Tri-State tornado crossed the Mississippi River. Water does not stop violent tornadoes.
Yes. Tornadoes have been documented climbing steep terrain. Terrain can weaken small tornadoes but does not stop violent ones. Tornadoes have struck at elevations over 10,000 feet in the Rockies.
Go to the lowest floor of the building and shelter in an interior hallway, bathroom, or closet away from windows. If you're on an upper floor, get to a ground-floor common area before the tornado arrives.
Get out of the car. Never shelter in a vehicle. If no building is nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area and cover your head. Full safety guide →
No — dangerous. The "wind tunnel" effect accelerates tornado winds under overpasses. Multiple people have died sheltering under overpasses. Read more on this myth →
No. This myth is completely false. Opening windows just gives the tornado more access to your home. Take shelter, don't touch the windows.
If you live in a tornado-prone area and don't have a basement, a FEMA-rated safe room is the best protection against violent tornadoes. Cost: $3,000–$15,000. Details on shelter options →
Watch = conditions are favorable, stay alert. Warning = a tornado has been sighted or detected, shelter now. Full explanation →
Yes if you're in a tornado-prone area. Phones can fail during severe weather. A NOAA weather radio alerts you overnight even if the power is out. Cost: about $30. Best weather radios →
Average NWS warning lead time is 13 minutes. Some warnings have 30+ minutes; others have less than 5 minutes.
The overall number of US tornadoes has stayed roughly the same, but their geographic distribution is shifting east from the Great Plains into Dixie Alley. This shift is well-documented in research (Gensini & Brooks 2018).
Yes. Hurricanes making landfall routinely spawn tornadoes in their outer rain bands. Hurricane Ivan (2004) alone spawned 118 tornadoes. Tornado vs. hurricane comparison →
The last officially rated EF5 in the US was Moore, OK on May 20, 2013 — over 13 years ago. This "EF5 drought" is real and heavily debated by meteorologists. Full explanation →