Severe Weather

A tornado forms when wind speed and direction change suddenly with height in an updraft, a phenomenon called wind shear.

Severe thunderstorms can turn into supercells, intense rotating updrafts.

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters in low pressure systems, when rotation increases and air pressure drops.

Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage scale: ranks tornadoes according to destruction and estimated wind speed

Joplin, MissouriEF5May 2011

Tornadoes 101

Tropical Storms

Tropical cyclones are also known as hurricanes and typhoons.

Storm surge: hurricane force winds drive ocean water towards coastal areas and onto land.

Hurricanes 101