Sometimes "thunderstorm warning" really means "tornado warning."

From a sobering experience, I learned that it is not always obvious to know when a tornado is approaching.

In our situation, conditions went from light rain and windy to tornado in an instant. No tornado watches or warnings were issued. But, a small tornado touched down across the road < 1,000' from our house, taking out a full-size billboard, 4 mature trees in my front yard, 6 mature trees in my backyard, and continued to make a path of damage, for a few miles

Amazingly and thankfully, the funnel literally skipped over our house, causing only minor damage. If the tornado had been a few feet closer to the ground, DW and I would have been Dorothy'd without knowing what hit us.

The warnings finally came when the tornado was into the next town.

The lessons I brought away from the experience is to pay much closer attention to the weather. Conditions can change in an instant.

Don't rely on technology 100%. Thunderstorm warning means pay close attention. You need to keep an eye to the sky.