Is there a tornado watch or warning near you? See every one in effect right now, what each means and where to shelter
No active tornado alerts in our cache right now. A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible. A tornado warning means one is imminent, so seek safe shelter immediately.
What to do
General steps from official sources.
Get ready
Now
Your safe place is a basement, safe room or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows. Tornado warnings are sent as Wireless Emergency Alerts.
Source: NWS: Tornado watches and warnings Full guide →
Decide
If conditions worsen
Move to your basement, safe room or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If time allows, take pets with you.
Source: NWS: Tornado watches and warnings Full guide →A mobile home or tent is not safe in a tornado. Seek a sturdy building immediately when a tornado approaches.
Source: NWS: During a tornado Full guide →The best option is to drive to the closest shelter. If you cannot reach one, stay low in the car and protect your head, or leave the vehicle for a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
Source: NWS: During a tornado Full guide →
Ride it out
During
Lightning kills about 20 people in the U.S. each year. See the NWS lightning safety page for what to do and how long to wait.
Source: NWS: Lightning Full guide →
What the tornado alerts mean
A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible. A tornado warning means one is imminent, so seek safe shelter immediately.
Tornado Watch
Issued when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. It does not mean that they will occur, only that they are possible.
Tornado Warning
Issued when a tornado is imminent. When a tornado warning is issued, seek safe shelter immediately.
Alert thresholds are set by each National Weather Service office, so the numbers can differ where you live. The text of the alert for your location is what applies. Source: NWS Baltimore/Washington: Watch/Warning/Advisory Definitions. For the full comparison across alert types, see watch vs warning vs advisory.
Key steps from our guides
Each point links to the official page it comes from.
- In a tornado warning, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, or to your basement or safe room. Avoid windows. NWS: Tornado watches and warnings
- A mobile home or tent is not safe. Move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. NWS: During a tornado
- Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best option is to drive to the closest shelter. NWS: During a tornado
- During a tornado watch, review your emergency plans, take inventory of your supplies, check your safe room and be ready to act quickly. NWS: Tornado watches and warnings
- Identify and practice going to a safe shelter: a safe room built to FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built to ICC 500 standards. Ready.gov: Tornadoes
- The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Ready.gov: Tornadoes
- During a tornado, cover your head and neck with your arms and put furniture or blankets around or on top of you. Ready.gov: Tornadoes
- If you build a safe room, FEMA recommends involving a licensed design professional and getting local building permits. FEMA: Safe Rooms
Tornado alerts by state
Open a state to see its current warnings, watches and advisories.
Common questions about tornado alerts
What is a tornado watch?
Issued when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. It does not mean that they will occur, only that they are possible.
What is a tornado warning?
Issued when a tornado is imminent. When a tornado warning is issued, seek safe shelter immediately.
Alert data comes from the National Weather Service and is refreshed every 15 minutes.