Whats the difference between a tornado watch and warning?
• A tornado watch means conditions exist for severe weather to develop. Watches are usually for large areas about 2/3 the size of lower Michigan. The usually last 2-6 hours. • A tornado warning, issued by the National Weather Service, means a tornado has been sighted, or Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado. Warnings are for smaller areas, such as counties, and are usually 30 minutes to one hour in length. How fast and far do tornadoes travel? They generally travel from the southwest at a speed of about 30 miles an hour. However, some tornadoes have very erratic paths with speeds approaching 70 miles per hour. The average Michigan tornado is on the ground for less than 10 minutes and travels about 5 miles. They have been known to stay on the ground for more than an hour and travel more than 100 miles. When do tornadoes generally occur in Michigan? Most tornadoes occur during June, July and August in the late afternoon and evening hours. However, they ca
