Julio Cortez / AP
A large U.S. flag, left, waves in gusty winds as pedestrians cross the street under streetlights in Newark, N.J. on Sept. 18. A tornado watch has been issued for parts of New Jersey, New York City and New York's lower Hudson Valley until 7 p.m. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center says lightning, hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph are possible. Read more.
See more weather photos on PhotoBlog.
Bebeto Matthews / AP
A thunderstorm rolls into the Brooklyn borough of New York on Thursday, July 26, 2012.
Miguel Llanos, NBC News reports: Severe storms moved into the Midwest and Northeast on Thursday, including a possible tornado in Elmira, N.Y., where buildings were damaged and thousands were left without power. There was no immediate word on injuries.
Initial reports indicate a tornado touched down in Elmira, the Storm Prediction Center stated. Other towns across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania and upstate New York also reported downed trees. Continue reading the full story.
Adam Warzawa / EPA
The remains of a damaged house after a tornado hit Wycinki village, Poland. The south-eastern part of Poland has been hit by a whirlwind on Saturday that tore off the roofs of buildings, destroyed power poles and a cottage (shows in the picture), killing a man inside and injuring four others.
Agencja Gazeta / Reuters
A cow stands inside a destroyed barn following a tornado in the village of Osia on Sunday. A freak wave of tornadoes ripped through northern Poland, wrecking houses and swathes of forest and leaving one person dead and another 10 injured.
Reuters reports that the scope and power of Sunday's tornadoes was unusual for Europe:
"I saw a black column coming our way," an injured inhabitant of the Wycinki village, whose farm was destroyed by the tornado told state television. "It carried everything away with it ... birds, debris, sucked up water from the lake."
A caravan with a family of three inside was seen flying through the air in the village of Stara Rzeka and breaking into pieces upon landing, but its occupants suffered no serious injuries, news channel TVN24 reported.
People walk together during a city sponsored Walk of Unity through the area that was ravaged by a massive tornado one year ago today on May 22 in Joplin, Mo.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Jody Kirk carries a sign in honor of her father Stan Kirk as she and other people walk together during a city sponsored Walk of Unity through the area that was ravaged by a massive tornado one year ago today. Kirk said her father was one of the 161 who died.
It's been a long, hard year for Joplin, Mo., where the destruction is still clearly visible today, even from space. NBC's Ron Mott reports.
A year after a massive tornado tore through Joplin, Mo., thousands of people touched by the storm marched through the streets of the hardest hit areas of town in a city sponsored four-mile "Walk of Unity."
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Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Scott Hasty places an American flag next to where his house was before it was destroyed by the massive tornado that passed through the town one year ago when the EF-5 tornado hit leaving behind a path of destruction along with 161 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Dawna Middleton and Bill Cook share a moment together during a prayer service in front of the iron cross that is all that remains of St. Mary's church after it was destroyed by the tornado one year ago today.
'Nightly News' spoke with Joplin tornado survivor Bethany Lansaw, who first talked with NBC's Brian Williams in 2011.
Photos by Charlie Riedel / AP
Shots taken on May 23, 2011, left, and May 7, 2012, show progress made in Joplin, Mo., in the year after an EF-5 tornado destroyed a large swath of the city.
A killer tornado tore through Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011, destroying 7,500 buildings and killing 161 people. AP’s Charlie Riedel documented the destruction over the next few days. He returned two months later to see how the cleanup was going, and again on May 7, 2012. These pictures show the changes the town is going through.
They’ve made considerable progress in Joplin, aided by donations and volunteers. However, there are still many empty lots, and the town is only now breaking ground on a new high school to replace the one destroyed by the storm.
These three-photo combos, taken on May 25, 2011, top, July 20, 2011, center, and May 7, 2012, bottom, show scenes of destruction, cleanup and rebuilding in the year since an EF-5 tornado destroyed a large swath of the city and killed 161 people.
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Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Camryn Dean,7, plays on a pile of dirt behind her mother's rebuilt home in the heart of what was once nothing but debris and destroyed homes after a tornado hit the neighborhood almost one year ago, in Joplin, Missouri.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
The Joplin High School sign is seen in front of the rubble of the school after the letters H and E were placed on it reading "Hope." The town is still rebuilding one year after the catastrophic tornado hit the town of Joplin, Missouri. Tuesday will mark the one-year anniversary of the EF-5 tornado that devastated the town.
Monday night, President Barack Obama is set to speak at Joplin High School’s commencement ceremony, nearly one year after a tornado stuck the town, wiping out 7,500 buildings, including the High School, and killing 161. On May 22, 2011, two high school students were killed as the tornado hit, a senior returning from graduation -- pulled through the sunroof of his car -- and a freshman also in a vehicle. Since that tragic day, students have been attending classes in makeshift structures spread across town. On Tuesday, they will symbolically break ground on three new schools which they hope to be complete by 2014.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
(Left to right) Morgan Osburn, David Hoosier and Kim Hoosier spend a quiet moment together in front of a memorial built for their friend Lance Hare who was killed when the town was hit by a tornado in Joplin, Missouri.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Pastor Kathy Redpath gives communion during a service in a temporary tent set up by the Peace Lutheran Church next to their church that that was destroyed when a tornado hit almost one year ago in Joplin, Missouri.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
The foundations of homes are all that remain after the debris has been cleared following the catastrophic tornado that hit almost one year ago in Joplin, Missouri.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Zac Bronson and his son, Nolan Bronson, plant trees in the front lawn of their new home which he built after his former home was destroyed when a tornado struck last year in Joplin, Missouri.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Camryn Dean, 7, plays in the newly built tornado shelter behind her mother's rebuilt home in the heart of what was once nothing but debris and destroyed homes after a tornado hit the neighborhood almost one year ago in Joplin, Missouri.
The rebuilding effort has been aided by thousands of volunteers and donations and support from far and near. Of the 553 businesses destroyed, 446 have reopened. The shell of what used to be the hospital still stands, though it has already been replaced by a new facility. Work has been ongoing to rebuild homes lost to the storm, but the area is speckled with empty lots and many still have no place to live.
Tim Osborn / NOAA via AP
A tornado is seen touching down in Grand Isle, La., Wednesday, May 9, 2012. The tornado has damaged several homes on Grand Isle, but officials say no injuries have been reported.
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Kyodo / Reuters
A tornado is seen in Tsukuba, north of Tokyo, in this picture taken by a resident, May 6.
Firefighters and medical teams rushed to the area after the tornado struck about 40 miles from Tokyo. The city is a science center, with dozens of research and academic institutes, but the tornado appeared to be mostly in residential areas.
Officials say a 14-year-old boy died and more than 30 people were injured.
-- Reported by the Associated Press
Kyodo / Reuters
People walk near debris and damaged vehicles in a residential area after a tornado struck Tsukuba, Japan.
Kei Hashimoto / Jiji Press via AFP - Getty Images
This picture whows a tornado sweeping through Tsukuba, Japan.
Kyodo News via AP
A damaged residential area is seen after a tornado struck Tsukuba, Japan.
Kyodo / Reuters
A tornado is seen in Tsukuba, Japan.
One person is dead and dozens are injured in Japan after a tornado in a city northeast of Tokyo destroyed scores of houses. Today's Courtney Reagan reports.
Steven Hausler / The Hays Daily News via AP
A funnel cloud dips down from the clouds on Saturday, April 14, just southwest of Otis, Kan., as severe thunderstorms roll across the state. The funnel touched down briefly before the storm weakened. Supercell thunderstorms spawned numerous tornadoes in Kansas on Saturday.
Dozens of tornadoes were reported Saturday as baseball-size hail shattered windows and tore the siding off homes in northeast Nebraska and one twister damaged a hospital in Creston, Iowa.
Forecasters had warned of "life-threatening" storms in the nation's midsection. No serious injuries from Saturday were immediately reported.
-- Reported by msnbc.com staff and news services
Eric Francis / Getty Images
Damage from an apparent tornado is seen April 14, in Thurman, Iowa.
Orlin Wagner / AP
A tornado moves on the ground north of Soloman, Kan., April 14.
Eric Francis / Getty Images
Several semi trucks and their trailers are overturned on Interstate 29, April 14, in Thurman, Iowa. The storms were part of a massive system that affected areas from Northern Nebraska south through Oklahoma.
Gene Blevins / Reuters
A lightning strike is seen near the water tower of Benkelman, Nebraska on April 12.
Forecasters are warning of a possible major tornado outbreak in the Midwest this weekend, with Kansas and Oklahoma seen at particular risk as early as Saturday. Picture taken on April 12, but made available to msnbc.com today.
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Courtesy of Hannah Dorsey
Instagram filters were used to process this image, taken by an iPhone.
Texans were active on a variety of social networks today, tracking and commenting on the tornadoes ripping through the Dallas area. On Instagram, the photography social network for iPhone, iPad and just released for Android, the hashtag #tornado was busy with pictures of tornado damage, funnel clouds, TV screens and self portraits ranging from goofy "oh no!" faces to genuine concern as they braced for the worst.
Several users posted pictures from schools where students and faculty gathered in hallways, locker rooms and maybe even a bathroom to try and stay safe from the storms. Hannah Dorsey's image, above, and her "Tornado lockdown..." caption caught my attention, so we asked her about the experience of having tornadoes near her school, Bishop Lynch High School, located in Dallas, Texas.
Hannah writes to msnbc.com:
"I was in third period doing assignments online for my class when the Dean of Students came over the intercom, issuing a tornado warning. He instructed us to quietly evacuate the classrooms to the nearest hallway or safe place and assume the safety procedures that we had practiced just yesterday.
My teacher followed us into the hallway and shut the door behind us. All the students sat along the walls with their faces turned towards the lockers, with hands over their heads. We were told to remain quiet and to listen for instructions. I was nervous but I knew we were safe. Our other Dean of Students entered my hallway and announced that the weather conditions were becoming increasingly worse and that the power will most likely go out. As he walked away murmurs arose and the teachers began to hush everyone, saying it would be fine. We sat there for about an hour after that. The lights flickered a few times but never went out and we did a few fun things to pass the time and keep everyone calm.
At one point we could see the rain through the window at the end of the hall and the rain was being blown hard enough to make it seem the rain was falling horizontally. We were given an update on the weather about every twenty minutes and were told that the tornado was very close, only a block or two over. We remained there until we were given the all-clear. Our principal told us to return to our third period class until we would be dismissed for fourth period.
Throughout the day we had a total of two evacuations, the second being very similar to the first. At the end of the day we were not allowed to leave the building unless our parents signed us out in the main office. Those who were driving themselves had to wait until the weather conditions were better. I was on lockdown until about 4:15."
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The strong winds lifted tractor trailers, hurling them through the air. After the wave of storms subsided, damage spanned several counties near Dallas. NBC's Gabe Gutierrez reports.
Nomaan Merchant / AP
Jerica Jenkins surveys damage to her home after it was hit by a tornado on April 3, 2012, in Lancaster, Texas.
Tim Sharp / Reuters
Semi-tractor trailers lay in debris left by a tornado which passed through the southern area of Dallas.
msnbc.com reports, updated at 5:40 p.m. ET: At least two tornadoes touched down in areas south of Dallas on Tuesday, tossing tractor-trailers hundreds of feet into the air and causing widespread damage, especially in Lancaster and Arlington. No deaths were reported, but rescuers were still combing debris.
Larry W. Smith / EPA
See the latest tornado photos from Dallas area
As the storm system moved northeast, it later spawned another tornado in Forney, a suburb just east of Dallas, where the fire station and several homes were hit and the high school saw roof damage, NBC News reported.
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