Hazard explainer
Severe Thunderstorm
Storms with damaging wind, large hail, or tornado potential require immediate indoor shelter.
Educational reference only. This is not an official warning and does not originate alerts.
What to expect
Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging straight-line winds, hail, frequent lightning, and occasionally tornadoes.
- Damaging wind at or above 58 mph
- Hail one inch or larger
- Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning
What to do
Move to a sturdy building. Stay away from windows. Monitor multiple trusted alert sources.
- Seek interior room on lowest floor
- Avoid sheds and mobile structures
- Wait for the storm to pass
Lightning safety
When thunder roars, go indoors. Lightning can strike miles from the storm core.
- Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside
After the storm
Report downed power lines to utilities. Avoid flooded roadways when leaving shelter.
Related alerts
Jump to the public alerts list with severe thunderstorm context applied.
View related Severe Thunderstorm alerts