Yikes! I've been in 3 tornadoes and one small wind tunnel during my life so far. I'm not sure which is worse - a bad hurricane or a tornado - probably the tornado except it passes much quicker.

Everytime I have been near a tornado, it sounds like a train passing right through the house. When I was further away, it was completely silent. Usually it is completely silent right before as well, probably because the tornado sucks up all the wind and everything else around is calm. During the daytime, the air will turn a thick green as though you could cut it with a knife right before one strikes.

You were very fortunate!


>About 3:30 AM the wind was blowing at a constant speed of about 70mph. Loud whining noise was coming from outside. The rain drops were smashing against our windows. Lightening flashing every two seconds, but no thunder... couldn't hear it. Lights were going on and off. TV service was knocked out. Then after about 8-10 minutes, it became completely silent.
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>People on our side of the street were spared from damages to our houses and cars. But some of our neighbors weren't so lucky. Down trees on top of cars and fences blown to pieces. Tree limbs and parts of homes everywhere.
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>Was it a tornado or just high-speed straight line wind?
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>the good news is we're expecting great spring weather for the next few days.