How long do tornadoes last?
Tornadoes can last from a few seconds to more than an hour. They might remain on the ground for just a few yards or for more than 100 miles. On average, tornadoes move from the southwest to the northeast at about 30 mph. However, as the killer Jarrell, Texas, tornado of May 27, 1997, showed, tornadoes can defy these averages. The “F-5” tornado that killed 27 people when it churned through a Jarrell subdivision moved southwest at only 10 mph. Tornadoes have been known to move in any direction at speeds up to 70 mph. Some have sat nearly stationary for several minutes. But, it is unusual for tornadoes to change speed and direction during their lifetime.
