Supercells are very complicated storm systems.  They mostly form over the midwest of the United States known as Tornado Alley.  When the ingredients come together just right it can produce a tornado.  When a tornado is on the ground it is extremely dangerous, and if you aren’t prepared it can be life threatening.  These steps will help you know when you should take shelter.  It can mean life or death.

 

Step 1: Watch for CGs (Cloud to Ground Lightning)

Cloud to ground lightning is a major sign that a storm is intensifying.  The more cloud to ground lightning that you spot, the stronger the storm is.  Storms that produce tornadoes tend to have a lot of CGs.  Cloud to ground lightning looks like this:

 

Step 2: Look for big hail

Another sign that a storm is intensifying and soon to go tornado warned is hail.  When hail starts falling it means that there is intense updrafts within the anvil of a cloud, and this storm can soon produce a tornado.  If huge hail is falling it is a good sign to take shelter, because something worse could be on its way.

 

Step 3: Look for a Shelf Cloud

Shelf clouds are usually located in the front of intense thunderstorms.  They are usually a harbringer of tornadoes.  Shelf clouds signify that warm and cold air is meeting, and being fed into the storm.  This is what tornadoes feed off of.  A shelf cloud looks like this:

 

Step 4: Look for scud.

Scud is clouds that can sometimes look like a tornado, but don’t rotate.  They hang below the base of a supercell, and appear to be wisps of clouds.  When scud starts to pull up into the base of a supercell that means the storm is intensifying, and is close to producing a tornado.  Scud looks like this:

 

Step 5:  Watch for a Wall Cloud

A wall cloud is the final stage before there is a tornado.  A wall cloud is a rotating cloud that’s lower from the base of a supercell.  This is the precursor to a tornado.  Wall clouds will eventually start to tighten and form a tornado.  If a wall cloud is spotted you must take immediate shelter.  A wall cloud looks like:

 

If any of these weather formations are spotted take shelter immediately.  The closer you get to step 5 the worst your chances are if you stay outside.  Tornadoes are unpredictable, and with this guide hopefully you’ll never get caught outside in the wrath of Mother Nature.