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Winds in a tornado are extremely high because the pressure at the center of the tornado is much less than its surroundings, and this pressure drop occurs over a very small distance. Differences in pressure are what cause most winds.
The greater the pressure difference over a given area, the greater the wind speed.
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How fast do F5 tornado winds blow?
Tornado ratings are based on damage, so the wind speeds for any given rating are estimates. The original estimated wind speed range for an F5 tornado was 261-318 mph. This estimate is now believed to have been too high. Currently, a tornado with estimate winds in excess of 200 mph is rated EF5, though the damage inflicted is the same as that from an F5.
How is a tornado destructive?
high rotating wind speeds makes them destructive
What is the relationship between air pressure and tornadoes?
The air pressure inside a tornado is very low. This allows the tornado to draw air inward at high speeds.
What role does pressure play in a tornado?
All wind on Earth is ultimately driven by pressure differences. As a general rule, the more the pressure changes over a given distance, the stronger the wind can be. A tornado is a small center of intense low pressure. That pressure drop occurs over a very short distance, which causes air to rush into the tornado rapidly and reach very high speeds in and near the core.
How fast do the winds move in an F-5 tornado?
On the original Fujita scale, F5 winds were estimated to be 261-318 mph. However, actual ratings are based on damage, with the wind speeds being an estimate. In the past few years, scientists have come to believe that these estimates were too high. Now, EF5 damage is estimated to start at just over 200 mph.
What is the difference between a gale and a tornado?
A gale is along hard wind that can reach a high speed of at least 39 mph usually resulting from a mid-latitude cyclone, rather than a tornado which can reach high speeds but tends to travel in a circular motion in a small area. A tornado is defined as a violently rotating column of air and can produce stronger winds than a gale.
What is a destructive rotating air column with very high winds speeds that touches the ground?
That description most closely matches a tornado.
How tornado winds can harm things on the ground?
The winds of a tornado are very vast. The force the winds carry can tear things apart or push them past their breaking point. The winds even in a "weak" tornado can also topple trees onto buildings. The winds in strong tornado can propel objects at high speeds, causing more damage than the wind alone. The stronger a tornado gets, the larger and heavier objects it can carry.
How fast can tornadoes travel in mph?
In terms of forward speed, the average tornado moves at about 30 mph. But speeds may range from stationary to over 70 mph. In terms of wind speed, winds can range from 65 mph to over 300 mph.
What Tornado and thunderstorms have in common?
they both have high winds and both have high damages.
How fast do F5 tornado winds blow?
Tornado ratings are based on damage, so the wind speeds for any given rating are estimates. The original estimated wind speed range for an F5 tornado was 261-318 mph. This estimate is now believed to have been too high. Currently, a tornado with estimate winds in excess of 200 mph is rated EF5, though the damage inflicted is the same as that from an F5.
How is a tornado destructive?
high rotating wind speeds makes them destructive
Why do cars reach such high speeds?
horsepower
How fast are winds in the great dark spot on Neptune?
The winds in the Great Dark Spot on Neptune have been observed to reach speeds of up to 1,300 miles per hour (2,100 kilometers per hour). These winds are some of the fastest recorded in the solar system.
Is a cheetah faster than a tornado?
In terms of the speed at which a tornado travels, yes. A typical tornado travels at 30 to 35 mph. A cheetah can run at 70 to 75 mph, which is close to the upper limit of how fast a tornado can move. Note, however, that a cheetah can only maintain such high speeds for a few seconds. A tornado can maintain a high rate of speed for over an hour in some cases. In terms of the wind speed of a tornado, no. Even comparatively weak tornadoes can produce winds in excess of 80 mph. The most violent tornadoes can produce winds over 300 mph.
Wind speed higher than 318 mph?
Many people believed that an F6 tornado should be added on the Fujita scale but 318 or over mph winds was never recorded and winds were believed too high for tornadoes to reach unlike the may 3rd outbreak that of the Oklahoma city tornado experienced 302 mph winds in 1999. Even then, tornado ratings are based on damage rather than wind speed.
Why are the maximum winds inside a tornado so high?
Tornadoes produce a large pressure drop over a short distance. The exerts a great force on the air and cause it to reach great speeds. On top of this, on one side of the tornado, its forward speed will be added to its rotational speed. In northern hemisphere (counterclockwise) tornadoes this will be the right side, and in southern hemisphere (clockwise) tornadoes it will be on the left side. In some tornadoes, smaller vortices can develop that move with the rotation, rotating at up to 100 mph. So that means if a tornado is moving at 30 mph (a typical speed), rotating at 100 mph, and has a subvortex rotating at 100 mph, winds on the right side of the tornado will at times reach 230 mph.
