Wednesday’s topic during Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa focuses on the dangers of tornadoes.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says tornado watches are issued when the environment is severe enough to possibly make a tornado, which he points out as making people aware to be prepared to take action. Kempf notes that a tornado warning means to take action and get to the lowest level of your home, stay away from windows, or seek shelter or get in a ditch if driving. 

Kempf says there is confusion between two commonly used terms when referring to a tornado: a funnel cloud versus a tornado. He explains the differences.

“A funnel cloud is a cloud that’s rotating off of a wall cloud, but it hasn’t made contact with the ground. To be considered a tornado that (funnel cloud) has to be connected to the cloud base and reach all the way to the ground before it’s actually certified as a tornado.”

Kempf reminds everyone that it only takes a few seconds for a tornado to form and can disappear just as quickly. To hear more from Kempf about tornadoes, as well as the rest of the week’s topics for Severe Weather Awareness Week, listen to today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County program.