No. General scientific consensus is that most tornadoes start forming up inside a thunderstorm and extend downward. There is evidence that some tornadoes form from the ground up, however.
A tornado that does not touch the ground is a funnel cloud.
The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado of 2011 was on the ground for about 90 minutes.
Not technically. It is the beginning of a tornado, but they are categorized differently. It is not considered a tornado until it reaches the ground with damaging winds.
No. Tornadoes descend from the base of thunderstorms, usually associated with very tall thunderstorms. The tornado begins in the lower portions of the storm. Furthermore, if the vortex does not touch the ground, it is not considered a tornado.
No. Tornadoes form from thunderstorms. By definition a tornado must make contact with both the ground and the cloud base. However, small whirlwinds, such as dust devils, can form on cloudless days. These look somewhat like tornadoes, but are nowhere near as strong.
When a tornado first reaches the ground and becomes a tornado it is said to have touched down.
No, a tornado is not a form of matter. It is a natural phenomenon in the atmosphere characterized by a rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes are composed of air and do not have a physical substance of their own.
A tornado that does not touch the ground is a funnel cloud.
A funnel cloud that touches the ground is commonly known as a tornado.
A tornado that doesn't touch the ground isn't a tornado; it is a funnel cloud. However if the funnel is pulling debris off the ground or making some other type of contact with the ground it is a tornado.
A tornado often appears dark were it is touching the ground be cause the powerful winds of the tornado lift dirt from the ground.
The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado of 2011 was on the ground for about 90 minutes.
The intensity of a tornado is rated based on damage done on the ground.
Much of the time, yes. However if radar detects strong enough rotation in a storm, indicating a tornado is likely to form soon, that may also prompt a tornado warning.
An F5 tornado does not form directly from an F1 tornado. Tornado intensity is determined by the Enhanced Fujita Scale based on wind speeds and damage. It is possible for a tornado to rapidly intensify due to various atmospheric conditions, leading to an increase in intensity from an F1 to an F5 tornado.
A funnel cloud is typically visible before a tornado touches down
Not technically. It is the beginning of a tornado, but they are categorized differently. It is not considered a tornado until it reaches the ground with damaging winds.