Thunderstorms have made their way through the Raccoon Valley Radio listening area already this summer.

Thankfully there haven’t been many tornadoes to add to that number of severe storms seen so far, but that doesn’t mean one may not happen. Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf tells Raccoon Valley Radio how tornadoes occur.

“That happens when we have a very strong updraft right next to a very strong downdraft, and a lot of times , the winds that end up developing a tornado are actually almost a tubular wind that’s horizontal with the ground. And as that lift start with that updraft right next to the downdraft, it actually moves that wind sheer into a vertical direction, and that’s where the rotation at the bottom of the wall cloud starts, or the bottom of that thunderstorm.”

Kempf adds that while tornadoes can be extremely destructive, there are ways to be prepared for them, and to be able to watch for them. He explains that everyone should listen to the weather when severe weather is possible, and heed the advice and warnings of weather professionals, watch out for funnel clouds and the pickup of debris if they form, because that’s when a tornado has been born, and if there is a tornado spotted in your area, get to a windowless interior room on the lowest floor of the structure you’re in.