Tornado

A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. The wind speeds of tornadoes can reach up to 300 miles per hour (480 km/h), and they can cause significant damage to structures and vegetation in their path.

Formation

Tornadoes form in association with severe thunderstorms, particularly those known as supercells. A supercell is a thunderstorm with a deep, persistently rotating updraft called a mesocyclone. The process of tornado formation is complex and involves the interaction of various atmospheric conditions, including wind shear, instability, and moisture.

Mesocyclone

A mesocyclone is a region of rotation within a thunderstorm. It is typically 2 to 10 kilometers in diameter and is associated with the development of severe weather, including tornadoes. The rotation of the mesocyclone is often visible as a wall cloud, which is a lowering of the cloud base.

Tornadogenesis

The process of tornado formation, or tornadogenesis, involves the intensification of the mesocyclone and the development of a funnel cloud. As the funnel cloud descends, it may reach the ground and become a tornado. The exact mechanisms of tornadogenesis are still a subject of research.

Classification

Tornadoes are classified based on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which estimates wind speeds based on the damage caused. The scale ranges from EF0, with minor damage, to EF5, with incredible damage.

Tornado Alley

Tornado Alley is a colloquial term for a region of the United States where tornadoes are most frequent. This area includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The region's unique geography and climate contribute to the high frequency of tornadoes.

Safety and Preparedness

To protect against tornadoes, it is important to have a safety plan in place. This includes identifying a safe location, such as a basement or interior room, and having an emergency kit ready. Tornado warnings and watches are issued by meteorological agencies to alert the public of potential tornado threats.

Related Pages

Gallery

F5 tornado in Elie, Manitoba, 2007
Tornado near Anadarko, Oklahoma, 1999
Tornado in Waurika, Oklahoma
Diagram of tornado infrasound sources
Time-lapse of a tornado
Formation of a wall cloud from a mesocyclone
Stovepipe tornado near Yuma, Colorado
Tornado roping out in Eastern Colorado
Trombe
Dust devil
Aerial view of tornado damage in Moore, Oklahoma, 2013
Global distribution of tornadoes
Map of Tornado Alley
Annual tornado count in the US
Historical tornado illustration, 1857
Radar graphic of a tornado near Naperville and Woodridge
Wall cloud
Tornadoes in Pilger, Nebraska
Damage from the Birmingham tornado, 2005
Tornado with Doppler on Wheels
Rope tornado near Yuma, Colorado
Tornado near Punkin Center, Colorado
EF0 tornado over the North Sea
Tornado roping out near Merino, Colorado
Andover tornado, April 29, 2022
Radar of a classic supercell
NEXRAD radar of an EF2 tornado in Kansas
Doppler on Wheels radar image

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