WEATHER

- Tornadoes
Tornadoes are one of the most violent
and powerful types of weather. They
consist of a very fast rotating column
of air that usually forms a funnel
shape. They can be very dangerous
as their high speed winds can break
apart buildings, knock down trees,
and even toss cars into the air.

Jaydhel P. Paler
How tornadoes
form?
When we talk about tornadoes, we are usually
talking about large tornadoes that occur during
thunderstorms. These types of tornadoes form
from very tall thunderstorm clouds called
cumulonimbus clouds. However, it takes more
than just a thunderstorm to cause a tornado.
Other conditions must occur for a tornado to
form.
The typical steps for the formation of a tornado
are as follows:
1. A large thunderstorm occurs in a
cumulonimbus cloud
2. A change in wind direction and wind
speed at high altitudes causes the air to
swirl horizontally
3. Rising air from the ground pushes up on
the swirling air and tips it over
4. The funnel of swirling air begins to suck
up more warm air from the ground
5. The funnel grows longer and stretches
toward the ground
6. When the funnel touches the ground it
becomes a tornado
Characteristics of a
Tornado
 Shape - Tornadoes typically look like a
narrow funnel reaching from the clouds
down to the ground. Sometimes giant
tornadoes can look more like a wedge.
 Size - Tornadoes can vary widely in
size. A typical tornado in the United
States is around 500 feet across, but
some may be as narrow as just a few
feet across or nearly two miles wide.
 Wind Speed - The wind speed of a
tornado can vary from 65 to 250 miles
per hour.
 Color - Tornadoes may appear different
colors depending on the local
environment. Some may be nearly
invisible, while others may appear white,
gray, black, blue, red, or even green.
 Rotation - When viewed from above,
most tornadoes rotate counterclockwise
in the northern hemisphere and
clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
Where do most
Tornadoes Occur?
Tornadoes can form most anywhere, but most
of the tornadoes in the United States occur in
an area called Tornado Alley. Tornado Alley
stretches from northern Texas to South Dakota
and from Missouri to the Rocky Mountains.
Interesting Facts about Tornadoes
 Other names for tornado include twister,
cyclone, and funnel.
 In order for a vortex of wind to be
officially called a tornado it must touch
the ground.
 More tornadoes touch down in the
United States than any other country,
over 1,000 per year.
 The fastest winds on Earth occur inside
tornadoes.
 Don't plan on outrunning a tornado, the
average tornado travels at a speed of 30
miles per hour, but some can move at
speeds up to 70 miles per hour.