In some extreme cases, thunderstorms can spawn a derecho, a long-lived windstorm with gusts over 100 mph, strong enough to cause widespread destruction. If a severe thunderstorm warning mentions damaging winds or a derecho, take cover immediately—just as you would for a tornado.

The threat of tornadoes is moving east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South a day after a massive storm system moving across the country unleashed winds that damaged buildings, whipped up dust s

Severe thunderstorm outlooks issued by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center can show a threat level from 1 to 5. They are used to show how widespread and intense severe weather could be on a given day.