Northern Illinois was hit with several nocturnal tornadoes this week. Do you know where to go to take shelter from a tornado? Avoid these 10 places if you can.

Best Places to Take Shelter from Tornadoes

The National Weather Service says in the event of a Tornado Warning, the best places for us to go are sturdy buildings or to a safe room, basement, or cellar.

If you owned this Indiana underground bunker, you'd be pretty safe; during a tornado or the apocalypse.

If there is no basement, another good choice for a tornado shelter is a small, interior room on the lowest level of your home. Be sure to stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.

Those are the BEST places to take shelter from a tornado.

Tornado Warnings in Illinois

Most of northern Illinois was under a Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather on Tuesday and throughout the night, hundreds of Illinois residents were tossed into chaos and fear and all of it went down in pitch darkness.

Canva
Canva
loading...

LOOK: Creepy Footage of a Nighttime Tornado in Hinckley, Illinois

In the midst of all that was happening with our weather on Tuesday (2/27) can you imagine what it must've been like for people who had to scramble to find a place to take shelter, inside or out, in the middle of the night?

Nocturnal Tornado

In nature, there is almost nothing more dangerous than a tornado. It's an entirely different kind of terrifying when it happens at night.

Weather Channel meteorologists Jim Cantore and Alex Wilson used some pretty cool technology to show what it's like inside a tornado.

Fun 104 logo
Get our free mobile app

 

10 Worst Places to Take Shelter From a Tornado

Canva
Canva
loading...

1. Vehicles

Despite popular belief, vehicles are not safe shelters during tornadoes. They can be lifted and thrown by the tornado or crushed by falling debris.


 

Canva
Canva
loading...

2. Beneath heavy furniture

While hiding under heavy furniture like a sofa might seem like a good idea, it's not structurally sound enough to provide adequate protection from collapsing walls or flying debris.

MORE: Another Once Popular Illinois Shopping Mall is Closing in March


 

Canva
Canva
loading...

3. Near trees or power lines

Trees can be uprooted and power lines can be brought down by tornado-force winds, posing significant risks to anyone nearby.


 

Canva
Canva
loading...

4. Buildings with weak or damaged structures

Buildings that are not up to code or have existing structural issues are not safe shelters during tornadoes. They may collapse or suffer extensive damage during the storm.


 

canva
Canva
loading...

5. Tents or temporary structures

These offer minimal protection against tornado-force winds and flying debris. They can collapse easily and expose occupants to serious danger.


 

Canva
Canva
loading...

6. Near windows or glass doors

Flying debris can easily shatter windows and glass doors, posing a serious risk of injury or death to anyone nearby.


 

Canva
Canva
loading...

7. Open fields or outdoors

Being caught in the open during a tornado is extremely dangerous. There is no protection from debris or the force of the tornado winds.


 

Canva
Canva
loading...

8. Mobile homes or trailers

These structures offer little to no protection against tornadoes. They can easily be picked up and destroyed by the strong winds.


 

Canva
Canva
loading...

9. Under bridges or tunnels

Bridges and tunnels can create wind tunnels and are not safe shelters during tornadoes.

According to the National Weather Service, one of the WORST places you can take shelter from a tornado is:


 

Canva
Canva
loading...

10. Under highway overpasses

While it might seem like a safe spot, overpasses can actually amplify the wind speed and create a wind tunnel effect, making it extremely dangerous during a tornado.

Instead, if you are caught in a tornado while on an open road, the NWS recommends lying in a ditch, ravine, or below-grade culvert as an absolute last resort if another shelter is unavailable.

MORE: The 3 Reasons Illinois Dubbed ‘Most Hated’ State in America