Norfolk, Va. – Tornadoes that form during tropical storms are often weak and small, but don’t let that fool you. They can still produce a lot of damage and threaten lives.
When a lot of us think of tornadoes, images of big, long-lived storms that can be seen from miles away, destroying everything in their path, come to mind.
But tornadoes are also a real threat during tropical storms and hurricanes.
Tropical Storm Andrea has already formed tornadoes in Florida.
It’s not uncommon for weak tornadoes to spin up quickly during tropical storms. They often form in bands of thunderstorms to the right of the storm’s center.
Just as quickly as the ominous, funnel-like clouds formed over York County earlier this week, tornadoes in tropical systems can do the same thing, sometimes without a lot of warning, and that’s because they often don’t appear as dangerous on radar like the tornadoes in the Great Plains.
They’re usually rain-wrapped and move fast, which can be difficult to detect on radar.
That’s why it’s important to think quickly and stay connected during a hurricane or tropical storm, either with an NOAA weather radio or an app on your smartphone to keep you safe from the storm.