Tornadoes

What is a Tornado?

“A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending between, and in contact with, a cloud and the surface of the earth.”

http://www.weather.com/ready/tornado/index.html

How do they form?

Warm, moist air that meets cold air and dry air can create thunderstorms which have the possibility of producing tornadoes.

The exact way tornadoes are formed are unknown.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/

How strong are they?

Tornadoes are measured in strength by the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Damage helps estimate the wind speeds of the tornado.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Fujita_Scale

Enhanced Fujita Scale

Scale Wind Speed (MPH)

Damage Caused

EF0 65-85 Roof lightly damaged, broken tree branches

EF1 86-110 Mobile homes turned over and roofs severely damaged

EF2 111-135 Roofs torn off and trees uprooted

EF3 136-165 Levels of homes destroyed and cars picked up ad thrown

EF4 166-200 Houses completely destroyed

EF5 >200 Reinforced concrete very damaged

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Fujita_Scale

Where do they occur?

Tornadoes can be formed anywhere in the United States.

They mostly are formed during the Spring and Summer months.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/tornadoes.html#alley

Tornado Alley

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/stalley.gif

Tornado Watch

There is a possibility that a tornado might form; listen for future weather updates.

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_terms.shtm

Tornado Warning

A tornado has been detected visually or on radar. Head to safety.

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_terms.shtm

Tornado Safety Tips

If you see a tornado or hear the tornado siren immediately head to a basement or to the lowest interior room.

If you are in a mobile home, vehicle, or outside seek shelter in a building or lay flat in a ditch.

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_during.shtm

Tornado Video

Tornado Video

Work Cited

Slide 1- <div xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" about="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pingnews/452392668/"><a rel="cc:attributionURL" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pingnews/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/pingnews/</a> / <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></div>

Slide 2- Weather.com The Weather Channel, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.weather.com/ready/tornado/index.html>.

Slide 3- Noaa.gov NOAA, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/>.

Slide 4 and 5- Wikipedia.org N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Fujita_Scale>.

Slide 6- ncdc.noaa.gov NOAA, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/tornadoes.html#alley>.

Slide 7- Concannon et al. 2000. NOAA. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/stalley.gif>.

Slide 8 & 9- Fema.gov FEMA, 4 June 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_terms.shtm>.

Slide 10- Fema.gov FEMA, 4 June 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_during.shtm>.