The sight of an eerie green sky before a fierce thunderstorm is sometimes perceived as a warning sign of an approaching tornado, but forecasters say that this long-standing myth might not be true.

NORFOLK, Va. — Have you ever been in a thunderstorm or noticed one coming towards you and wondered why the sky looked a little green? If not, that's okay because it doesn't happen very often.

For centuries, the saying "Red sky at night, sailor’s delight ... leaving behind moisture-rich air and signaling that a storm system could now be approaching – hence, “sailors take warning.” ...

A severe thunderstorm watch was last issued for Pierce, Lewis and Thurston counties in May 2017. As lightning scattered across the sky, heavy downpours led to short-term urban flooding in some areas.