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The formation of tornadoes is complicated.
First, a condition called wind shear, in which the speed or direction of the wind changes with altitude. If the shear is strong enough it can essentially tilt a thunderstorm, this separates the updraft and downdraft of the thunderstorm, preventing them from interfering with one another. This allows the storm to become stronger and last longer.
Additionally, if the wind shear is strong enough it can start the air rolling in what is called horizontal vorticity. This horizontal vorticity can then be turned vertical by a thunderstorm's updraft. When this happens, the thunderstorm may start rotating. The rotation is especially strong in an updraft called a mesocyclone. If the storm intensifies rapidly enough, a relatively warm downdraft called a rear-flank downdraft or RFD can wrap around the bottom part of the mesocyclone. This can then tighten and intensify its rotation and bring it down to the ground to produce a tornado.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoMore than just two conditions are needed, but the two most important ones are convective instability and wind shear.
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Where is a tornado likely to form?
Tornadoes most frequently happen in Tornado Alley, a strip of land that goes up the United States Midwest. However, tornadoes can happen almost anywhere. Flat land, like in Tornado Alley, does not interfere with the winds, so the tornado is not dissipated.
What happen when 2 F5 tornadoes collide?
When two tornadoes meet, regardless of intensity, they will merge to form one tornado.
What would happen if a tornado funneled into an erupting volcano?
it can stop the tornado
Can a tornado happen in Toronto?
Yes, In fact there was a tornado in the Toronto area in 2009.
Can a tornado form without a thunderstorm?
No, a tornado cannot form without a thunderstorm. A tornado needs the crossing winds of two air masses to provide rotation in order for a tornado to form. Tornadoes do not form from convection thunderstorms, but only from air mass thunderstorms.
Can A Tornado Happen With No Clouds?
No, it can not happen. You will always need a cloud to form a tornado. The kind of cloud that a tornado uses is a cumulonimbus cloud.
What will happen for a tornado connect with another tornado?
If two tornadoes meet, they will merge to form one tornado.
What will happen if tornado goes to a different tornado?
When two tornadoes meet they merge to form a larger tornado. This is an unusual occurrence, but when it does happen it usually involves a large tornado absorbing a smaller one.
What will happen cool air and cool air mix?
a tornado will form
What has to happen before a tornado is being developed?
Thunderstorms need to start rotating. This rotation must then tighten and intensify to produce a tornado.
What happen when tornado and lightning happen at the same time?
The lightning can light up the tornado, but nothing else really happens. This is a rather common occurrence as tornadoes form from thunderstorms.
Where is a tornado likely to form?
Tornadoes most frequently happen in Tornado Alley, a strip of land that goes up the United States Midwest. However, tornadoes can happen almost anywhere. Flat land, like in Tornado Alley, does not interfere with the winds, so the tornado is not dissipated.
Can a tornado happen in a hurricane?
Yes. It is not uncommon for tornadoes to form in the outer bands of hurricanes.
Where and when is a tornado likely to happen?
A tornado is most likely to happen in the United States in a section called "Tornado Alley". This includes Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Florida, Missouri, and more. A tornado is likely to form between 3 pm. and 9 pm.
How do you know a tornado is about to happen?
A wall cloud will form and the cloud might build up a funnel!
What has to happen to a funnel cloud to be classified as a tornado?
Either the funnel cloud or the violent, rotating winds associated with it must reach the ground in order to be classified as a tornado.
When tornadoes join what are they called?
It is rare for tornado to actually merge, and when it does happen it usually involves a large tornado absorbing a smaller one. In the rare cases that tornadoes do merge they simply form one bigger tornado.
