Tornadoes
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending between and in contact with, a cloud and the surface of the earth. Generally spawned by thunderstorms, they have been known to occur with and without the presence of lightning.
In Southeast Virginia, history shows us that tornadoes have occurred every month of the year. However, the Spring months and the Fall months often bring the most tornado risk to our region with strong/severe t-storms occurring in the Spring and tornadoes occurring with tropical systems in the Fall. Tornadoes can occur day or night - so it's important to have a plan to get tornado alerts. Make sure you are signed up for Norfolk Alert and have enabled severe weather alerts on your cell phone.
Tornadoes in Eastern VA are often hard to see because they are wrapped in rain or obscured by the trees. Never wait until you see a tornado to seek shelter. When you get the tornado warning - seek shelter immediately!
Be Prepared
- If a TORNADO WATCH is issued for your area, it means that a tornado is "possible."
If a TORNADO WARNING is issued, it means that a tornado has been spotted, or is indicated on radar, and it is time to go to a safe shelter immediately.
- Be alert to what is happening outside; warning signs include:
- A sickly greenish or greenish-black color to the sky.
- A strange quiet that occurs within or shortly after the thunderstorm. Clouds moving by very fast, especially in a rotating pattern or converging toward one area of the sky.
- A sound like a waterfall or rushing air at first, but turning into a roar as it comes closer (the sound of a tornado has been likened to that of both railroad trains and jets).
- Debris dropping from the sky.
- An obvious "funnel-shaped" cloud that is rotating, or debris such as branches and leaves being pulled upwards, even if no funnel cloud is visible.
- Wear shoes vs sandals if there is a threat of tornadoes. Wearing shoes will allow you to move easier if your home is impacted/damaged.
- Practice going to your tornado safe space with your pets. Animals may act differently if a storm is approaching, so make sure you have a plan for them.
Where to go during a tornado
If a tornado warning is issued for your location, it's time to take action. Click through the images below to see where the safest place may be.
If you see a tornado and it is not moving to the right or to the left relative to trees or power poles in the distance, it may be moving toward you! A tornado also may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms within the funnel.
How are Tornadoes Rated?
Tornadoes are rated based on the damage they create using the Enhanced Fujita Scale. They are categorized on a scale of EF-0 (weakest) to EF-5 (strongest). While history shows us that EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes are more common than stronger tornadoes in Norfolk, EF-3 tornadoes have occurred in the vicinity, as recently as April 2023 in Virginia Beach.