TORNADOES

What is a tornado?

A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating air column extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of
water droplets, dust and debris. Tornadoes can be among the most violent phenomena of all
atmospheric storms we experience.

How tornadoes develop

Tornadoes are typically formed by massive thunderstorms. An unstable collision in the atmosphere
happens when moist, warm air collides with dry, cold air. Warm air rises swiftly and cold air falls,
forming a supercell, a massive thunderstorm with swirling updrafts of air.

If the winds from the thunderstorm fluctuate considerably in speed or direction, the updraft will
begin to rotate. The revolving updraft's rotation speed increases as it pulls in more warm air from the
moving thunderstorm, and a funnel cloud forms. The funnel grows longer as the twister acquires
strength. (When more dirt and debris is captured in the funnel's spin, it becomes more visible.) It is
most harmful when it comes into contact with the earth.

The most severe tornadoes are produced by supercells, which are massive thunderstorms with
already rotating winds. One in every thousand thunderstorms develops into a supercell, and one in
every five or six supercells produces a tornado.

Where and when tornadoes form

Tornadoes have been spotted in every state in the United States, although many of them form in a
region known as Tornado Alley. This Midwest zone includes Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Oklahoma,
and Nebraska and extends from Texas to Ohio.

These states are in the path of both warm, wet air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool air from the
Rocky Mountains. Tornadoes are likely to develop when warm and cool airstreams collide.

Tornado season in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas lasts from May to early June, despite the fact that
storms can strike at any time of year. Tornadoes are more likely to form in June and July in North and
South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota.

Tracking tornadoes

During thunderstorms, meteorologists collect data such as wind speed and temperature using
weather satellites, weather balloons, and buoys. The data is then analyzed using supercomputers.
This allows scientists to predict where and when a twister will form, as well as how powerful and
long-lasting it will be.

When the weather conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado, experts issue a tornado
warning for a specific area, such as a county or a major portion of a state. This does not mean that a
tornado is on its way. Yet it's possible—meteorologists offer the warning so people can prepare.

When a tornado is sighted or detected by weather radar, scientists issue a tornado warning for a
smaller area, such as a town or a portion of a city. People are being advised to take cover.

Tornadoes in Romania

Between 1990 and 2013, 89 tornadoes were reported, mostly in the east, south, and southeast of the
country. According to one study, the majority occurred between May and July, with a peak in May.

On April 30th, 2019, around 14:20 UTC, the onboard cameras of automobiles passing on the highway
connecting Bucharest to the Black Sea coast captured an image of a tornado, which immediately
drew the attention of the public. The tornado affected Dragalina village in Călăraşi county, in the
southern part of Romania(Figure 1a).

According to meteorologists, the unusual weather early Tuesday evening was caused by a cold front
from Bulgaria  colliding with much warmer, moist air in southern Romania. The tornado's top speed
was estimated to be 90km/h

Six days later, on May 6th, 2019, a second convective event occurred near the first, under identical
meteorological and environmental conditions (Figure 1c). The weather service issued a warning for
convective storms with heavy rain, medium and large hail, and "tornado-like" winds, however no
tornadoes were reported this time.

It should be mentioned that both convective incidents occurred in South-Eastern Romania, which is
known for having a high amount of tornado reports. Convective storms in this area are typically
caused by convergence zones formed by interactions between synoptic circulation and local
topography (Carpathian Mountains). The most devastating event in this area occurred on August 12,
2002, in Făcăeni—Ialomița County, when over 400 houses were damaged and 30 were entirely
demolished, killing a woman and her child.