Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up. Stay alert for high winds even if you do not "see" a tornado. Tornadoes often occur when it is not raining. ... Tornadoes are associated with a powerful updraft, so rain does not fall in or next to a tornado.

Can a tornado occur while it's raining?

Rain-wrapped tornadoes are a hidden hazard you can't see until it's too late. ... It's extremely common to have rain-wrapped tornadoes outside of the Plains where thunderstorms form in moisture-rich environments and heavy rain usually obscures most of the tornadoes that touch down.

Is there a calm before a tornado?

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. This is the calm before the storm. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm and it is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.