Tornado Facts

Tornadoes usually are preceded by very heavy rain and possibly hail. If hail falls from a thunderstorm, it is an indication that the storm has large amounts of energy and may be severe. In general, the larger the hailstones, the more potential for damaging thunderstorm winds and/or tornadoes.

The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more.

An average tornado damage path is one-to-three miles wide and 50 miles long.

The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, though tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.

The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph.

Tornadoes can occur throughout the year, however, the peak season in North Carolina is March through May.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3PM and 7PM but have been known to occur at all hours of the day or night.

National Weather Service (NWS) officials in Raleigh, Morehead City and Wilmington, North Carolina; Blacksburg and Wakefield, Virginia; Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Morristown, Tennessee provide warnings for North Carolina.

The NWS is now using Doppler weather radar to sense the air movement within thunderstorms. Early detection of increasing rotation aloft within a thunderstorm can allow time for lifesaving warnings before the tornado forms.

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