Articles · Weather
Everything about Tornado
12 articles across NWS
Violently rotating columns of air extending from thunderstorms to the ground. The U.S. averages about 1,300 tornadoes per year, with the greatest concentration from Texas to the Dakotas.
Disaster History
Case studies and disaster history
Fort Smith Tornado 1898: A Midnight Tornado That Killed 55
On January 11, 1898, an F4 tornado struck Fort Smith, Arkansas around midnight while the city slept. 55 people died, 113 were injured, and the newly built high school was nearly destroyed. A case stud
Judsonia Tornado 1952: Arkansas's Deadliest Tornado Day
On March 21, 1952, fifteen tornadoes struck Arkansas in a single afternoon, killing 111 people. The worst hit Judsonia, a town of 1,100, killing 50 and leveling the business district. A case study in
Warren Tornado 1949: When a Lumber Town Lost 55 People in Minutes
On January 3, 1949, an F4 tornado struck Warren, Arkansas, killing 55 people and destroying more than 700 homes. A case study of the deadliest single tornado in Arkansas history and what it taught abo
The Bridge Creek–Moore F5 Tornado (May 3, 1999): The Highest Wind Speed Ever Recorded on Earth
On May 3, 1999, the Bridge Creek–Moore F5 tornado produced 301 mph winds - the highest wind speed ever measured on Earth. NWS issued the first-ever Tornado Emergency. The warning system worked better
The 2011 Joplin Tornado: Why 161 People Died When the Warning Worked
The Joplin tornado gave residents 24 minutes of warning. 161 people still died. Learn why warnings fail when people don't act, and what every household should do differently.
The Moore, Oklahoma Tornado (May 20, 2013): The School With No Shelter
On May 20, 2013, an EF5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. 24 people died, including seven third-graders at Plaza Towers Elementary. The school had no storm shelter. It sat in Moore, Oklahoma - the most
The Tri-State Tornado of 1925: When the Government Banned Tornado Warnings
On March 18, 1925, the deadliest tornado in U.S. history killed 695 people across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. Not one of them received a tornado warning - because the U.S. Weather Bureau had bann
The Tuscaloosa–Birmingham Tornado (April 27, 2011): The Tornado You Could Watch on Live TV
On April 27, 2011, an EF4 tornado was broadcast live on multiple TV stations as it traveled 80 miles through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama. 64 people died. The tornado was visible on screens for
Preparedness
Preparedness and self-reliance
Shelter-in-Place
When and how to shelter in place. Safe room selection, sealing techniques, hazard-specific protocols, and the supplies that make sheltering sustainable for hours or days.
Hazard-Specific Planning
Planning for the specific hazards that threaten your area. What distinguishes each hazard type, unique preparations, watch versus warning, and pre-decided action triggers.
Tornado Preparedness Guide: Shelter Hierarchy & Recovery
A practical tornado preparedness guide: the shelter hierarchy, the difference between a watch and a warning, and what to do in the 72 hours after the storm.