Live tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings and storm outlooks on one map, with radar.
Warnings and watches: U.S. National Weather Service. Outlooks: NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Radar: NOAA. Covers the United States. This page does not replace official warnings. In a tornado warning, take shelter immediately in the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
What This Tornado Tracker Shows
This page shows tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings and watches on a live map. The alerts come from the U.S. National Weather Service and refresh every 5 minutes. A red area is under a tornado warning, and an orange area is under a severe thunderstorm warning. You can also see the outlook from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, which shows where storms are expected today, tomorrow and on day 3, and you can turn on the radar to see storms move. Use the menus to switch between the overall storm risk and the chance of tornadoes, hail or damaging wind.
Is There a Tornado Warning Near Me?
Press My location and allow location access. The map moves to your position, and a box above the map lists every active tornado and severe thunderstorm alert at your exact location. It also shows today’s storm risk for your area. If no alerts are listed, none are active at your spot right now.
Tornado Watch vs. Tornado Warning
- Tornado watch: Conditions are right for tornadoes to form. It covers a large area for several hours. Stay alert, and know where you will take shelter.
- Tornado warning: A tornado has been seen or is shown on radar. It covers a small area, often just a few counties or less. Take shelter immediately.
Warning times are short. They are often only 10 to 15 minutes, so do not wait to see the tornado.
What Is a Severe Thunderstorm?
A thunderstorm is severe when it produces wind of 58 mph (93 km/h) or more, hail 1 inch (2.5 cm) or larger, or a tornado. Damaging wind and hail cause far more damage in a year than tornadoes do.
The Storm Prediction Center Outlook
The outlook uses a scale from 1 to 5.
| Risk Level | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorms | General storms, with no severe weather expected |
| Marginal (1) | Isolated severe storms are possible |
| Slight (2) | Scattered severe storms are possible |
| Enhanced (3) | Numerous severe storms are possible |
| Moderate (4) | Widespread severe storms are likely |
| High (5) | A major outbreak is expected, which is rare |
How Strong Is a Tornado?
Tornadoes are rated from EF0 to EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, based on the damage they cause and the wind speeds needed to cause it.
| EF Rating | Wind Speed |
|---|---|
| EF0 | 65 to 85 mph |
| EF1 | 86 to 110 mph |
| EF2 | 111 to 135 mph |
| EF3 | 136 to 165 mph |
| EF4 | 166 to 200 mph |
| EF5 | Over 200 mph |
Most tornadoes are weak. Only about 1 percent reach EF4 or EF5, but they cause most of the deaths.
When and Where Tornadoes Happen
The U.S. has about 1,200 tornadoes in an average year, more than any other country. The Great Plains has the most, and the peak season there runs from April to June. The Southeast, often called Dixie Alley, has a second peak in late fall and winter, and its tornadoes are often more dangerous, because they happen more at night and in areas with many trees and mobile homes. Tornadoes happen in every state.
Famous Tornadoes and Outbreaks
- Tri-State Tornado, 1925: 695 deaths along a path of 219 miles through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It is still the deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
- Super Outbreak, 1974: 148 tornadoes in 24 hours across 13 states, and 319 deaths.
- Super Outbreak, April 2011: More than 360 tornadoes in four days, and over 320 deaths across the South.
- Joplin, Missouri, 2011: An EF5 tornado killed 158 people.
- El Reno, Oklahoma, 2013: The widest tornado ever recorded, at 2.6 miles (4.2 km) wide.
- December 2021 outbreak: 89 deaths across several states, including a tornado that stayed on the ground for more than 160 miles in Kentucky.
What to Do in a Tornado Warning
Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building, to a small room in the center, like a bathroom or closet, away from windows. Cover your head and neck with a mattress, helmet or heavy blankets. Do not shelter in a mobile home, because even a weak tornado can destroy it. If you are in a car, drive to a sturdy building if you can reach one. Do not shelter under a highway overpass, because it can increase the danger.
Be Ready Before the Storm
Turn on emergency alerts on your phone, and have a backup, like a weather radio, for the night. Know where your shelter is before the storm. EarthInformer is an information site and does not issue official warnings.
Source: Warnings and watches from the U.S. National Weather Service. Outlooks from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. Radar from NOAA.
Tornado FAQ
Press My location on the map above. It shows every active tornado and severe thunderstorm alert at your position, plus today’s storm risk.
A watch means tornadoes are possible, so be ready. A warning means a tornado is happening or about to happen, so take shelter immediately.
Texas has the most tornadoes in a year, followed by Kansas, Oklahoma and Florida. The Great Plains has the most violent ones.
They can happen in any month. The peak season in the Plains is April to June, and the Southeast has a second peak in late fall and winter.
Often only 10 to 15 minutes. Do not wait to see the tornado, because many are hidden by rain or happen at night.
It is NOAA’s forecast of where severe storms are expected. It rates the risk from 1 to 5, from Marginal to High, for today, tomorrow and day 3.
The lowest floor of a sturdy building, in a small room in the center away from windows. Never shelter in a mobile home or under a highway overpass.