Make the shelter decision before you make the driving decision

  1. 01
    Confirm the warning and your location

    Use a weather alert, navigation location, highway marker, or nearby town name so you know whether the warning covers your route. Keep your attention on driving rather than trying to study radar while moving.

  2. 02
    Look for a substantial building, not a convenient structure

    A sturdy building with an interior low-level space is a better goal than an overpass, gas-pump canopy, picnic shelter, or isolated shed. If a safe business or public building is immediately accessible, move inside and away from windows.

  3. 03
    Do not race the storm on the highway

    A tornado can change direction and road congestion can remove your escape route. High speed also increases your exposure to hail, debris, standing water, and sudden crosswinds.

  4. 04
    If you must stop, get fully out of traffic

    Do not stop in a travel lane or block an exit ramp. Avoid parking next to trees, power lines, signs, light poles, or other objects that can fall or become airborne.

  5. 05
    Follow current local emergency instructions

    The safest fallback when no building is available depends on the exact terrain and storm. Follow the official guidance being issued for your area rather than a one-size-fits-all social-media tip.

Some roadside options look safer than they are

Highway overpass
Driving past when the road remains safely passable

An overpass is not a purpose-built tornado shelter and can expose people to extreme wind and flying debris while also creating a traffic blockage.

Sturdy occupied building
Seeking interior, low-level shelter

If you can reach it without driving toward the storm or creating another hazard, this is generally a much stronger option than remaining exposed in a vehicle.

Vehicle on the roadside
A last-resort situation when substantial shelter is unavailable

Keep the vehicle out of traffic and follow local emergency instructions. Do not assume the car protects you from large debris or overturning hazards.

A road-trip weather kit is useful only if you can reach it quickly

  • Enable severe-weather alerts before long drives through storm-prone regions.
  • Keep a charged phone and backup power source accessible rather than buried under luggage.
  • Know which passenger can handle navigation and weather updates so the driver can keep eyes on the road.
  • Keep closed-toe shoes within reach in case you must leave the vehicle around broken glass or debris.
  • Do not place heavy loose objects on the rear shelf or dashboard where sudden braking can turn them into projectiles.
  • If traveling with children or pets, decide in advance how you will move everyone into shelter without leaving someone in the vehicle.

Stop and get help

Hail, debris, flooding, and downed lines can remain after the warning passes

Do not immediately accelerate back to highway speed when the storm appears to move away. Check the road for standing water, tree limbs, power lines, broken glass, and disabled vehicles. If a line is down near your vehicle, stay away from it and follow emergency-service instructions rather than stepping out to inspect it.