4800 West 92nd Avenue Westminster, CO 80031




Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms.  Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can uproot trees, destroy buildings and turn harmless objects into deadly missiles. They can devastate a neighborhood in seconds.

A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour.  Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.  Every state is at some risk from this hazard.

Tornado facts

  1. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
  2. Tornadoes are capable of destroying homes and vehicles and can cause fatalities. 
  3. Tornadoes may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
  4. Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.  The average tornado moves SW to NE but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
  5. The average forward speed is 30 mph but may vary from stationary to 70 mph with rotating winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. 
  6. Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
  7. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.  
  8. Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains, including the City of Westminster, during spring and summer months but can occur in any state at any time of year.  
  9. Peak tornado season during the spring and early summer in Colorado.
  10. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time of the day or night.

What to do before tornadoes threaten

  1. Know the terms used to describe tornado threats:
    • Tornado Watch ­- Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms.  Listen to your battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio or local radio/television outlets for updated reports.
  2. Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio with a battery backup and tone-alert feature that automatically alerts you when a Watch or Warning is issued (tone alert not available in some areas).  Purchase a battery-powered commercial radio and extra batteries as well.
  3. Know which county  (Adams or Jefferson) in which you live.  Counties are used in watches and warnings to identify the location of tornadoes.
  4. Determine places to seek shelter, such as a basement or storm cellar.  If an underground shelter is not available, identify an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor.
  5. Practice going to your shelter with your household.
  6. Know the locations of designated shelters in places where you and your household spend time, such as public buildings, nursing homes and shopping centers.  
  7. Assemble a disaster supply kit.  Keep a stock of food and extra drinking water.  See the Emergency Planning and Disaster Supplies and Evacuation pages for more information.
  8. Make a record of your personal property.  Take photographs or videotapes of your belongings.  Store these documents in a safe place.

What to do during a tornado watch

  1. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information. 
  2.  Be alert for approaching storms.  If you see any revolving funnel shaped clouds, report them immediately by telephone to your local police department or sheriff's office. 
  3.  Watch for tornado danger signs:
    • Dark, often greenish sky
    • Large hail
    • Loud roar, similar to a freight train
    • Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm.  It is
        not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
  4. Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways, supermarkets or shopping malls.
  5. Be prepared to take shelter immediately. Gather household members and pets. Assemble supplies to take to the shelter such as flashlight, battery-powered radio, water, and first aid kit.

What to do during a tornado warning
When a tornado has been sighted, go to your shelter immediately.  

  1. In a residence or small building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement or storm cellar. 
  2. If there is no basement, go to an interior room on the lower level (closets, interior hallways). Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use arms to protect head and neck. Stay there until the danger has passed.
  3. Do not open windows.  Use the time to seek shelter.
  5. In a school, nursing home, hospital, factory or shopping center, go to predetermined shelter areas.  Interior hallways on the lowest floor are usually safest.
  6. In a high-rise building, go to a small, interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. 
  7. Get out of vehicles, trailers and mobile homes immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or a storm shelter.  Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.  
  10. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck; instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.  Tornadoes are erratic and move swiftly.

What to do after a tornado

  1. Look out for broken glass and downed power lines.
    • Never try to feed liquids to an unconscious person.
  3. Use caution when entering a damaged building. Be sure that walls, ceiling and roof are in place and that the structure rests firmly on the foundation. Wear sturdy work boots and gloves.
  4. See the Recovering From Disaster page for more important information.

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