The outbreak that produced the Joplin tornado started on May 21. A large mass of warm, moist air was over the plains as a low pressure system pulled cooler, drier air from further north, forming a cold front that traveled westward, generating lift that ignited violent thunderstorms which began producing tornadoes. These thunderstorms continued through May 22. One particularly powerful storm developed over eastern Kansas and soon after crossing into Missouri, produced a tornado 1 mile west of Joplin that intensified extremely rapidly.
In excess of 200 mph at the peak, possibly as high as 250 mph.
Yes, a tornado can come from a thunderstorm. In fact, a tornado cannot be caused by anything other than a thunderstorm. One key facotrs is that the thunderstorm must have a rotating updraft.
Yes. All tornadoes form from thunderstorms.
It would be sheer coincidence if they did. A tornado is primarily a land storm. There can be a tornado over the surface of water (called a waterspout), but either way, tornadoes have nothing to do with tsunamis, which are caused by undersea quake movements.
Tornadoes are ultimately caused by weather, as they are violenlt weather events.
The Joplin tornado caused about $2.8 billion worth of damage to the city of Joplin.
The Joplin tornado struck the city of Joplin, Missouri.
No. Joplin is in Missouri and so was the tornado that hit it.
The Joplin tornado of 2011 was a Multiple-vortex tornado. Inside the main circulation were smaller vortices that packed stronger winds than the rest of the tornado. These subvortices are what caused the most severe damage.
The Joplin tornado was generate by a supercell thunderstorm associated with a storm system moving slowly across the Midwest. A downdraft within the usually strong supercell caused the storm's rotation to tighten and intensify into a violent tornado.
The Joplin, Missouri tornado occurred on May 22, 2011.
The Joplin tornado traveled about 22 miles in total. It was in Joplin for about 7 miles.
The Joplin tornado struck the city of Joplin, which is in the southwestern corner of Missouri in the central United States.
The Joplin, Missouri tornado occurred on May 22, 2011.
The Joplin tornado occurred on the afternoon of May 22, 2011.
The Joplin tornado traveled 22.1 miles.
The Joplin, Missouri tornado struck on Sunday May 22, 2011.