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Both thunderstorms and tornadoes are storms that form in an unstable atmosphere and are capable of producing damage. Tornadoes are themselves a by-product of thunderstorms.
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How are tornadoes and thunderstorms similar and different?
They are the same because they both are classified as storms and can cause damage via wind. They are different because a thunderstorm does not have a funnel of wind like a tornado. A tornado itself does not produce rain or lightning, but the thunderstorm that spawned the tornado can. Also, the winds in a tornado are more violent than those just caused by a thunderstorm.
What causes the movement of a tornado?
A tornado moves with its parent thunderstorm. The storm itself is carried by the winds in the environment it forms in.
Is a funnel cloud that touches the ground a thunderhead or a supercell?
Neither. A funnel cloud that touches the ground is a tornado. A thunderhead is the sort of cloud that develops into a thunderstorm, and a supercell is the kind of thunderstorm most likely to produce a tornado.
Why do tornadoes have downdrafts?
For the most part a tornado is actually an updraft as it is connected with the rotating updraft of its parent thunderstorm. However there are two downdrafts that are related to tornadoes. The first is the rear-flank downdraft of a thunderstorm. This downdraft is induced by rain and wraps around the rotating updraft of a supercell thunderstorm. This is believed to tighten and intensify the mesocyclone to produce a tornado. Another, less common downdraft occurs when a tornado undergoes something called vortex breakdown. The center of a tornado has low pressure, which draws air inward and upward, but in a very intense tornado the air is spinning so fast that it cannot reach the center so the low pressure draws air downward, forming a downdraft in the center of the tornado. This is a similar mechanism to what produced they eye of a hurricane.
Where does the force from a tornado come from?
The power of a tornado comes from the thunderstorm that produces it. A thunderstorm is powered by the energy that water vapor releases when it condenses. Differences in wind speed and direction wind altitude, a condition called wind shear, sets these storms rotating. This rotation can then tighten and intensify to form a tornado.
What is the difference between weather warning and weather watch?
A tornado/thunderstorm watch means that weather conditions are good for tornado/thunderstorm. A tornado/thunderstorm warning, however, means that conditions are extreme and a thunderstorm or tornado is likely. Conditions for either storm are very good at this stage.
What is the relationship between a thunderstorm and a tornado?
Thunderstorms are what produce tornadoes
How are tornadoes and thunderstorms similar and different?
They are the same because they both are classified as storms and can cause damage via wind. They are different because a thunderstorm does not have a funnel of wind like a tornado. A tornado itself does not produce rain or lightning, but the thunderstorm that spawned the tornado can. Also, the winds in a tornado are more violent than those just caused by a thunderstorm.
Can a tornado be caused by thunderstorm?
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.
Can a thunderstorm cause a tornado?
Yes. In fact a thunderstorm is the only thing that can cause a tornado.
What is the difference between tornado and lighting?
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Lightning is a massive discharge of static electricity that occurs during a thunderstorm.
What is a violent thunderstorm that can lead into dangerous tornado?
A supercell is the kind of thunderstorm most likely to produce a tornado.
Where does a tornado descend from?
A tornado descends from the base of a thunderstorm.
What forms the shape of a tornado?
a tornado is formed by a thunderstorm
Does a hurricane have a larger thunderstorm than a tornado?
Hurricanes themselves are much larger than any thunderstorm or tornado.
What is a parent thunderstorm?
A parent thunderstorms is a thunderstorm that produces some other event. This is often used when refering to tornadoes. A storm that produces a tornado is that tornado's parent thunderstorm.
Is a tornado part of a thunderstorm?
Yes. A tornado can be though of as part of a larger parent thunderstorm, though most thunderstorms do not produce tornadoes.
