Tornado Warnings
In short
A tornado warning is an urgent alert issued when a tornado is actually occurring or is about to form. It tells people in a specific area that they must seek immediate shelter to stay safe.
In plain words
This is a high-level emergency signal. It means a tornado has been spotted or seen on radar. You should stop what you are doing and find a safe place right away.
A simple example
If a weather station sees a spinning cloud on their radar, they issue a warning for your town. You would then move to a basement or an interior room.
Why it matters
These warnings provide the vital minutes needed to reach safety before a storm hits. Following them can prevent serious injury or death during extreme weather.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse this with a tornado watch, which only means conditions are favourable for a tornado to develop.