When is tornado season in North Texas? What should we expect in 2025?
Around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4, Fort Worth residents woke up to a howling siren. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and surrounding counties were under a tornado watch overnight, which was allowed to expire before 7 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.
South Tarrant County was under a tornado warning, and sirens sounded across Fort Worth and other cities because of severe storms.
This outdoor warning system means you need to take shelter from a possible tornado.
Tornado sirens should not be taken lightly. Many twisters touch down along “tornado alley” during March and April, according to AccuWeather. Tornado Alley is a strip from Nebraska to Texas known for irritable weather systems.
When is tornado season?
Tornado season is in spring because this is the time when air temperatures clash. The warm Gulf of Mexico winds mix with the cooler north winds, creating unstable atmospheric conditions which spawn tornadoes. The warmer it gets, the more likely it is for severe storms to form.
AccuWeather also expects 2025 to resemble last year’s severe season, except with a center focused in the Mississippi Valley and the Tennessee Valley rather than Tornado Alley. Last year was the second-worst tornado season on record in the United States, with 1,735 twisters. March will still have a few tornadoes while April and May will ramp up as the temperature warms.
If the sirens sound again in Fort Worth, here’s what you should know. You don’t need a safe room or basement to stay safe.
What should I do if I hear a tornado siren?
“If you hear the sirens, seek sturdy shelter immediately. Make your way to an interior room, away from windows and exterior walls,” according to the City of Fort Worth.
A windowless room on the first floor is the best option. This could be a basement, closet or bathroom. No matter what room you are in, it’s smart to seek shelter under a sturdy table that can protect you from heavy objects that can potentially fall through the ceiling.
Bottom line: Be as far away from windows as possible, and cover your head.
The National Weather Service also outlines what to do if you are in the following locations when you hear a tornado siren:
- Mobile Homes: Get out. Seek a permanent building immediately. Even if your mobile home is “tied down,” this does not protect you from tornado winds and damage.
- School/ Office/ Hospital: Follow the drill and stay away from windows on the lowest level possible. Cover your head.
- Vehicles: There really is no safest option, but some options are safer than others. If the tornado is in sight, try to drive away from it and seek shelter. If you cannot get out in time, avoid finding shelter under bridges. Park the car out of traffic lanes, keep the seat belt on and try to protect your head.
- Outdoors: Try to seek shelter in a building. If you cannot, lie flat face down with your hands protecting your neck and head. Avoid trees and cars.
- Mall/Theater: Move quickly to an interior bathroom without windows.
- Church: Move quickly to an interior bathroom or closet without windows or crouch and protect your head under the seats or pews.
What should I do with my pets during a tornado?
The American Humane Society recommends bringing your pets to shelter with you. If they have a favorite crate that brings them comfort, try your best to have that with them as well.
Just like humans, pets should have protection by a sturdy piece of furniture to ensure nothing heavy falls on them and injures them.