Tornado Facts
A tornado can be defined as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud extending from a thunderstorm. This violent weather event is also known as cyclone or twister. The whirling winds of these clouds can reach a speed of 300 mph. The majority of them have a speed of 100 miles per hour. They can accompany hurricanes and tropical storms once they reach the land. Tornadoes are caused when a warm surface meets a cold surface. Usually tornadoes travel only a few miles before dissipating. Approximately 1,000 to 1,200 tornadoes occur every year in the United States.
Quick Facts: –
- The damage paths of tornadoes can be more than one mile wide and approximately 50 miles long.
- A tornado can appear transparent until it picks up some dust and debris or forms a cloud within the funnel.
- Tornado Alley is an area that has a frequent occurrence of tornadoes.
- A warning is issued when a funnel cloud is sighted or a twister is detected using the Doppler radar.
- If a cyclone forms or travels over water then it is called waterspout.
- The tri-state tornado was the deadliest one in the United States history killing 695 people.
- Their strength can be measured by using the Fujita Scale and the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
- The scale ranges from F0 to F5 where F0 represents the minimum damage and F5 represents the highest.
- Basements and other underground places are the safest to find shelter during these events.