Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has used a tornado warning in Washington DC as an example of extreme weather in support of her demand for a more concerted effort to tackle the "climate crisis".

In a series of posts shared on Instagram, the Democratic congresswoman expressed concern over the weather, which she noted to her followers was not something the New York native was used to.

“Guys, they just issued a tornado watch in DC,” she said, before turning her camera to her staff, standing together in her office.

She then panned over to the street, showing the weather, where she noticed people were still outside.

“Oh no, there’s people stuck outside,” she said over the footage; commenting on what appeared to be two parking attendants outside in the rain. “We need to get them out.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez greets fellow lawmakers ahead of the State of the Union address Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participates in an event with Democratic members of Congress EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures The Democrat senator speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol January 30, 2019 Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and fellow Democrat Rashida Tlaib AP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the Senate chamber to watch two votes on January 24, 2019 Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arrives with Chellie Pingree at a House Democratic Caucus meeting Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez during Donald Trump's State of the Union address Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures New York State Assembly member Catalina Cruz with Ocasio-Cortez AFP/Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Nydia Velazquez talks with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez casts her vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez poses with a campaign worker during a whistle stop in the Queens borough of New York Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez outside the US Capitol AFP/Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez after casting her ballot in the 2018 midterm general election at a polling site in New York EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looks on during a march organised by the Women's March Alliance in Manhattan Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio Cortez looks on at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2019 AFP/Getty

She then filmed a door in the Capitol while a tornado siren went off.

She also posted a story clarifying the difference between a tornado warning, which means a tornado has been spotted, and a tornado watch, which means conditions are right for a tornado. Washington DC, at the time, was under a warning.

In a series of photos showing statistics, Ms Ocasio-Cortez urged her followers to focus on the fight against climate change.

“The climate crisis is real y’all,” she wrote in a text across her story, pointing to her proposed "Green New Deal" in the midst of the storm. “Guess we’re at casual tornadoes in growing regions of the country.”

Highest threat level as tornado sweeps Oklahoma Show all 5 1 /5 Highest threat level as tornado sweeps Oklahoma Highest threat level as tornado sweeps Oklahoma A tornado spins during stormy weather in Mangum, Oklahoma Lorraine Matti / Reuters Highest threat level as tornado sweeps Oklahoma A tornado spins during stormy weather in Mangum, Oklahoma Clint Lively / Reuters Highest threat level as tornado sweeps Oklahoma The silhouette of a tornado appears during a lightning strike in Haskell, Oklahoma Matthew Harden / Reuters Highest threat level as tornado sweeps Oklahoma A tornado spins during stormy weather in Mangum, Oklahoma Lorraine Matti / Reuters Highest threat level as tornado sweeps Oklahoma A tornado spins during stormy weather in Mangum, Oklahoma Lorraine Matti / Reuters

Climate change is believed to be changing the courses and strength of tornadoes, moving deadlier ones to regions that previously faced lesser versions.