Tornadoes
NWS/SPC · Updated Every 30 minutes · Source: NWS/SPC
About Tornadoes
Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, capable of wind speeds exceeding 300 mph and cutting damage paths miles wide. The United States averages more tornadoes than any other country, with Tornado Alley (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas) and Dixie Alley (the Southeast) seeing the highest frequency and most intense events.
Data Source
Warning and watch polygons are retrieved from the NWS API (api.weather.gov) which provides CAP-formatted alerts in real time. SPC convective outlook products are the Day 1–3 categorical and probabilistic outlooks issued by the Storm Prediction Center, updated several times daily. Warning geometries are precise county/zone polygon boundaries.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Provider | NOAA National Weather Service / Storm Prediction Center |
| Update Frequency | Every 30 minutes |
| Coverage | United States (all 50 states and territories) |
| API / Data Feed | api.weather.gov and www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/ |
What the Map Shows
Active NWS tornado warnings (issued when a tornado has been detected on radar or sighted), tornado watches (conditions favorable for tornado development), and SPC convective outlook polygons showing the probability of significant tornado activity for the day and next 48 hours.
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