I was on a week long bike tour (GOBA) when they issued a tornado warning. The tour organizers swept the route and got most of the cyclists off the roads. My brother and I made it to the campground and set up our tent before the storm hit, but I don't think the tornado materialized or perhaps went back up or passed us by. However, it rained so hard that our tent got flooded and everything wet.

I was kayaking on a large lake near our house when a thunderstorm came up from behind me. I didn't notice the storm until I heard thunder and looked back over my shoulder. (If you have ever kayaked, it's hard to see behind you.) The squall line from the storm was really strong and the water went from calm to whitecaps within seconds. Since the wind was directly behind me, I just kept paddling and held onto to my paddle tight so it wouldn't get blown out of my hands. The winds were at least 40 mph and possibly higher, and I have never moved so fast in my kayak. Fortunately, I made it to a bridge before the heavy rain and hail started, and I waited out the storm there. That was a frightening experience that I hope never happens to me again. Altho it wasn't a tornado, straight-line winds from thunderstorms can produce velocities comparable to small tornados.