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Tornado, Volcano, Avalanche F
Tornado, Volcano, Avalanche F
Tornado, Volcano, Avalanche F
• Twister
• Wind Vortex
• Water spout
• Cyclone
A funnel cloud
A funnel cloud
Waterspout
waterspout is a tornado over water. Although most
tornadoes over land are associated with severe
thunderstorms, the National Weather Service in the
United States considers all waterspouts—including
"fair weather" waterspouts—to be tornadoes. These
less-severe relatives of classic tornadoes are almost
always weak (F0 or F1 on the Fujita Scale), and
spawn from non-rotating thunderstorms, or even
regular summer showers. Typically, waterspouts
moving onto land cause little or no damage, and
dissipate within minutes. However, strong
waterspouts from supercells can cause significant
damage if they impact land areas. In addition, strong
tornadoes can move over lakes or over the ocean,
becoming waterspouts, without losing intensity.
A landspout is an unofficial term for a tornado not
associated with a mesocyclone. Known officially
as a dust-tube tornado, it is usually weak,
features a small condensation funnel which
often does not appear to reach the ground, and
is often marked by a tall tube of dust and/or
debris reaching as far up as the parent cloud.
Though usually weaker than classic tornadoes,
they are tornadoes, and can cause serious
damage
A gustnado is a small, vertical swirl
associated with a gust front or downburst.
Because they are technically not
associated with the cloud base, there is
some debate as to whether or not
gustnadoes are actually tornadoes. These
usually cause localized areas of heavier
damage among areas of straight-line wind
damage caused by the gust front.
A dust devil is also a vertical swirling column
of air. These phenomena resemble
tornadoes, but are rarely as strong as
even the weakest tornadoes, and tend to
form under clear skies. Dust devils are not
considered tornadoes because they form
during fair weather, and are not associated
with thunderstorms. However, they can, on
occasion, result in major damage and
fatalities, especially in arid areas
SIZE, SPEED, & DURATION
Tornadoes vary greatly in size, intensity, and appearance. Most
(69%) of the tornadoes that occur each year fall into the
"weak" category. Wind speeds are in the range of 110 mph or
less. Weak tornadoes account for less than 5% of all tornado
deaths.
About one out of every three tornadoes (29%) is classified as
"strong." Strong tornadoes have wind speeds reaching about
205 mph, with an average path length of 9 mi, and a path width
of 200 yd. Almost 30% of all tornado deaths occur each year
from this type of storm. Nearly 70% of all tornado fatalities,
however, result from "violent" tornadoes. Although very rare
(only about 2% are violent), these extreme tornadoes can last
for hours. Average path lengths and widths are 26 mi and 425
yd, respectively. The largest of these may exceed a mile or
more in width, with wind speeds approaching 300 mph.
The winds of some tornadoes have been estimated to exceed 300 mph.
(Photo courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library;
OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL).)
Tornado Characteristics
• Time of day during which tornadoes are
most likely to occur is mid-afternoon,
generally 3–7 P.M., but they have
occurred at all times of day.
• Direction of movement is usually from
southwest to northeast. (Note: Tornadoes
associated with hurricanes may move from
an easterly direction.)
• Length of path averages 4 mi, but may reach
300 mi. A tornado traveled 293 mi across
Illinois and Indiana on May 26, 1917, and
lasted seven hours and 20 minutes.
• Protecting Fences
• Retaining Walls
• Deflecting Structures
• Snow Sheds
• Retarding Structure
Other Control Measures
• Remove ash and dust from the roof of your home as soon as it
is safe to do so. Ash is heavy and can cause damage to your
roof or gutters if allowed to accumulate.
• When cleaning ash from a roof, plug drain holes in the gutter
and disconnect the downspout. Sweep the ash off the roof with
a broom.
• Avoid using electronic devices where there is still airborne ash,
as it can short circuit electronics.
• Don't wash ash down drains.
• Once airborne ash has completely cleared, ash should be
vacuumed, not wiped, to prevent scratching on surfaces like
porcelain, enamel, glass, painted surfaces and appliances. A
damp cloth may be used after initial vacuuming.
• Change vacuum filters frequently, and be careful your vacuum
is not redistributing ash through the air discharge.
• Clothing exposed to ash should be shaken out and put through
a rinse and pre-soak cycle before machine washing. Use extra
detergent. Laundry additives can help adjust the pH level and
make detergents more effective.
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