Many changes take place in the atmosphere when a tornado may occur. It is important to learn the natural signs of a tornado in case weather forecasting is not available. Easy ways to tell if a tornado might be a threat are listed below.

• Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base
• Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base—this may indicate a tornado funnel that is still inside the cloud
• Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can’t be seen
• Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn’t fade in a few seconds like thunder. A tornado also may sound like a waterfall, trains, and jets
• Night- Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm, opposed to lightning flashes or strikes. These mean power lines are being snapped by very strong wind, which may be a tornado (above information from http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/torscans.htm)
• The sky may be a greenish black color.
• Clouds moving by very rapidly, which indicates strong winds
• Debris falling from the sky
• A funnel cloud that hasn’t touched the ground yet is a huge sign of a tornado.

If weather forecasting is available it is advisable to watch the weather channel or listen to the radio if you notice any of the above signs outside. While you are listening to a forecast if you hear the weather reporter say that there is a tornado watch that means that conditions for a tornado are favorable and that your should be prepared in case there is a tornado warning. If a tornado warning is posted that means that a tornado has been spotted and that you should take shelter immediately.