Storm Briefings
Daily tornado outlooks, storm recaps, SPC risk analysis, and severe weather safety — written by the VORTEX Weather Desk and grounded in NWS and SPC data.
Marginal Risk Thursday: Mid-Atlantic Storms This Afternoon
Marginal Risk for coastal Mid-Atlantic today: isolated severe hail, damaging winds, and a tornado possible across eastern PA, NJ, MD, and DE this afternoon.
Marginal Risk Wednesday: Midwest to Tennessee Storms Today
Marginal Risk for eastern Illinois to middle Tennessee today: isolated hail, wind, and a tornado possible 1–8pm CT as a cold front sweeps east.
Tornado Alley vs. Dixie Alley: Why One Is Deadlier
Tornado Alley sees more tornadoes, but Dixie Alley is statistically deadlier. The difference: nighttime tornadoes, rain-wrapped funnels, trees, and mobile homes.
When Is Peak Tornado Season in Each US Region?
Peak tornado season varies by region: Plains peak April-June, Dixie Alley has spring and fall peaks, Florida sees summer tornadoes from tropical systems.
South Texas Faces Marginal Severe Storm Risk Sunday
Marginal Risk for south Texas today: isolated damaging winds and brief tornado possible near Corpus Christi as surface-based storms develop along the coast.
Can a Tornado Hit a Major City? Yes, and It Has
Tornadoes can and do strike major cities. Nashville, Oklahoma City, and Dallas have all taken direct hits. The myth that buildings disrupt tornadoes is false.
Marginal Risk Friday: Carolinas Face Isolated Severe Storms
Marginal Risk for the central and eastern Carolinas today: isolated damaging winds and a brief tornado possible this afternoon, strongest 4-7pm.
Tornado Watch vs. Warning: What's the Difference?
A tornado watch means conditions are favorable; a warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected on radar. Know the difference—it could save your life.
Marginal Risk Wednesday: Southeast Faces Tornado and Wind Threat
Marginal Risk for the Southeast today: isolated tornadoes and damaging winds possible across northern Alabama, middle Tennessee, and northern Georgia as a cold front moves east.
Enhanced Risk: Tornado Threat Targets Oklahoma and Kansas Tonight
Enhanced Risk for north-central Oklahoma and south-central Kansas today: supercell tornadoes possible 5pm-midnight, with damaging winds spreading east overnight.
Slight Risk Sunday: Southern High Plains Face Tornado Threat Tonight
Slight Risk for New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle tonight: organized storms with 70+ mph wind gusts and isolated tornadoes expected 6pm-2am as shortwave trough moves east.
Brief Tornado Touches Down Near Marion, Kansas on October 30
A brief tornado touched down 5 miles northeast of Marion, Kansas on October 30, 2026, confirmed by video evidence and multiple social media reports.
Six Tornadoes Reported Across Texas on October 29
Six tornadoes touched down across Texas on October 29, 2026, concentrated in the western and south-central regions. No injuries reported.
Late-Season Tornado Touches Down in Northwest Wisconsin
A brief tornado touched down near Danbury, Wisconsin on October 28, 2026, part of a late-season severe weather event that brought hail and wind to the Upper Midwest.
Slight Risk Wednesday: Minnesota and Wisconsin Face Tornado Threat
Slight Risk for central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin this afternoon: tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds possible 2-7pm CT as supercells develop.
Marginal Risk Tuesday: Isolated Storms for West Texas and New Mexico
Marginal Risk today for southeast New Mexico and far west Texas: isolated severe storms possible this evening with large hail the primary threat.
Mesocyclone vs. Tornado: What's the Difference?
A mesocyclone is a rotating updraft inside a supercell thunderstorm. A tornado forms when that rotation extends to the ground—but most mesocyclones never produce tornadoes.
Marginal Risk Sunday: Scattered Storms Return to Southwest
Marginal Risk continues for central/eastern New Mexico and far west Texas Sunday afternoon with isolated hail, damaging winds, and a tornado or two possible.
Slight Risk Saturday: Southwest Storms Target New Mexico and West Texas
Slight Risk today for southern New Mexico and far west Texas: scattered severe storms after 1pm CDT with large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornado potential.
Slight Risk Friday: New Mexico and Colorado Face Hail, Wind Threat
Slight Risk covers New Mexico and southern Colorado today with supercells likely. Large hail is the primary threat through tonight, with damaging winds and an isolated tornado possible.
Slight Risk Thursday: Arizona and New Mexico Face Severe Storms
Slight Risk across central and eastern Arizona into western New Mexico today: large hail up to 2 inches, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes possible this afternoon and evening.
The Pressure Drop Before a Tornado: Can You Feel It?
Tornadoes cause sudden barometric pressure drops of 10-100 millibars in seconds. Here's why your ears might pop, what the science shows, and whether it's a useful warning sign.
Marginal Risk Monday: Isolated Severe Storms for Southwest
Marginal Risk for southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico today: isolated severe hail and gusty winds possible this afternoon through early evening.
Why Do Not Disturb Silences Weather Apps (But Not All Alerts)
Do Not Disturb silences third-party weather apps, but Wireless Emergency Alerts for tornado warnings still break through on most phones. Here's how to stay protected.
Why You Should Never Shelter Under a Highway Overpass
Highway overpasses create a deadly wind tunnel effect during tornadoes. Learn why this myth kills, what happened in 1999, and where to go instead if caught driving.
Slight Risk Friday: Damaging Winds Target Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
Slight Risk across the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England today: damaging winds expected this afternoon and early evening, isolated tornado possible in eastern PA, NJ, and southern NY.
Tornado Touches Down Near Fort Stockton, Texas on October 14
A tornado was confirmed northeast of Fort Stockton, Texas on October 14, 2026, with preliminary damage reports. The twister was part of a broader severe weather event across West Texas.
Slight Risk Tuesday: Severe Storms Target Kansas and Missouri
Slight Risk across Kansas and Missouri today: large hail and damaging winds expected this afternoon into tonight, with a tornado or two possible near the frontal boundary.
Nine Tornadoes Reported Across North Carolina on October 12
Nine tornadoes struck North Carolina on October 12, 2026, damaging buildings, flipping vehicles, and downing trees from Candor to Bunn. No severe weather is forecast today.
14 Tornadoes Strike Georgia and South Carolina as Isaias Moves North
Post-tropical cyclone Isaias spawned 14 confirmed tornadoes across Georgia and South Carolina Saturday, damaging homes and downing trees from Effingham County to Aiken.
Slight Risk Saturday: Tornado Threat from Post-Tropical Isaias
Slight Risk across eastern Georgia and western South Carolina today as post-tropical Isaias brings tornado potential, peak threat 4-7pm along the GA/SC border.
Slight Risk Friday: Hurricane Isaias Brings Tornado Threat to Florida Panhandle
Slight Risk across northern Florida, southeast Alabama, and southwest Georgia today as Hurricane Isaias approaches. Tornado potential peaks this afternoon through tonight.
Marginal Risk Thursday: Florida and Upper Midwest on Watch
Marginal Risk today for Florida Peninsula and Upper Midwest: isolated severe storms with waterspout/tornado potential in Florida, hail risk Iowa/Missouri tonight.
How the National Weather Service Issues a Tornado Warning
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is imminent or occurring. Here's how NWS forecasters use radar signatures, spotter reports, and algorithms to issue warnings in minutes.
Lightning Kills 20 Americans Every Year — Here's How to Stay Safe
If you can hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck by lightning. Modern safety guidance, the truth about vehicles, and why the 30-30 rule is outdated.
How Hail Grows to Softball Size—and Sometimes Bigger
Hailstones grow by cycling through a thunderstorm's updraft, adding ice layers with each pass. Updraft strength determines maximum size—here's the science.
Marginal Risk Sunday: Waterspouts and Brief Tornadoes Possible Along Florida Panhandle Coast
Marginal Risk for the Florida Panhandle today as a stalled front and offshore low development could trigger waterspouts and brief tornadoes near the coast.
How the Enhanced Fujita Scale Rates Tornado Damage
The EF-Scale rates tornadoes EF0 to EF5 based on damage to buildings and structures, not direct wind measurement. Here's how surveyors assign ratings.
What Makes a Tornado Outbreak a 'Super Outbreak'?
A super outbreak requires 30+ tornadoes, multiple violent twisters, and widespread damage. Learn what separates events like 1974 and 2011 from ordinary outbreak days.
16 Tornadoes Reported Across Kansas and Florida Wednesday
Sixteen tornadoes touched down across Kansas and Florida on September 30, 2026, with most activity concentrated in central Kansas during the afternoon and evening hours.
Two Tornadoes Touch Down in Texas Panhandle Tuesday Night
Two tornadoes touched down near Claude and Timbercreek Canyon in the Texas Panhandle late Tuesday night, confirmed by social media video and spotter reports.
Marginal Risk Tuesday: Desert Southwest to West Texas
Marginal Risk for southern Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas today: isolated severe gusts and a tornado or two possible this afternoon into tonight.
How Weather Radar Spots Tornadoes Before They Touch Down
Hook echoes, velocity couplets, and debris signatures: learn how Doppler radar detects tornado formation minutes before touchdown, giving forecasters critical warning time.
Marginal Risk Sunday: Hail Threat for Nebraska and South Dakota
Marginal Risk for western Nebraska and the Black Hills today: isolated storms capable of large hail this evening as moisture and lift converge over the High Plains.
Kansas Landspout and Scattered Severe Reports Close Out Friday
A landspout tornado touched down near Wilmore, Kansas Friday evening, part of a quiet severe weather day with just 6 total reports across three states.
What Is CAPE and Why Do Meteorologists Care So Much About It?
CAPE measures atmospheric instability—the fuel thunderstorms need to grow. Learn what the numbers mean, why forecasters watch it, and how it shapes severe weather outlooks.
North Dakota Tornado and Baseball Hail Cap Wednesday's Severe Weather
A brief tornado touched down near Bucyrus, North Dakota on Wednesday evening, accompanied by baseball-size hail and scattered severe reports across the Northern Plains.
Marginal Risk Wednesday: Western Dakotas and Appalachians
Marginal Risk for western Dakotas and southern Appalachians today: isolated severe hail and wind gusts this afternoon through early evening.
Marginal Severe Risk Tuesday: Isolated Storms for Rockies and Southeast
Marginal Risk for Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and the Southeast on September 22: isolated severe wind gusts the primary threat, with brief hail possible in the Rockies.
Marginal Risk Monday: Wind and Hail Threats from Texas to Virginia
Marginal Risk covers parts of the Southeast, Appalachians, and Texas South Plains today. Isolated damaging wind gusts and large hail possible through evening.