Tornadoes

No. Hurricanes and tornadoes are two different types of storm that produce fast winds, but they are not defined by wind speed alone. In many cases tornadoes and hurricanes produce winds in the same range of speed. A tornado is a violently rotating vortex of wind that is in contact with both the ground and a parent thunderstorm's cloud base. A hurricane is a tropical cyclone with sustained wind speeds of at least 74 miles per hour. Note that any wind of 74 mph or greater is considered "hurricane-force" but only in a tropical cyclone is it considered an actual hurricane.

Tornadoes can help regulate temperature by moving warm air upwards and bringing down cooler air. Additionally, they can help replenish nutrients in the soil by breaking down debris and mixing it with the ground. Tornadoes also have been known to help disperse seeds, helping with plant diversity.

The Fujita scale classifies tornadoes based on damage.

After a tornado, ensure safety first by checking for injuries and securing the area. Contact emergency services if needed. Assess the damage to your property and contact your insurance company to file a claim. Seek support from friends, family, and community resources to help with recovery efforts.

Yes, that is correct. A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. It is capable of causing significant damage due to its high winds and often creates a visible funnel shape.

You would most likely be killed by flying debris and assuming you actually made it into the vortex you could be lifted anywhere from tens to hundreds of feet in the air before being ejected sideways out of the funnel.

Hurricanes are low pressure systems out over the open warm ocean waters and they get their energy from those warm waters. The low pressure system gathers clouds and storms and once these storms get organized enough they can eventually turn into hurricanes. They are hundreds of miles wide and can reach wind speeds of up to 155mph. Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of wind they form from a storm known as a supercell which is the most violent form of thunderstorm the atmosphere makes. They form when you have the right atmospheric conditions such as cold air colliding with warm moist unstable air. When those 2 air masses collide they form storms and these storms can then turn into supercells and the supercells can then produce a tornado if the supercell has a strong updraft and downdraft as well as strong enough rotation within the storm it can and does produce a tornado.

Tornadoes can travel in any direction, but most often move northeast. Wind itself often rotates about the tornado's center, counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern. Some tornadoes also contain smaller subvortices.

Yes, tornadoes can form over an island if the conditions are right. Warm, moist air mixed with cool, dry air can create the instability needed for tornado formation, regardless of whether it's over land or water. Tornadoes have been known to occur over islands in various parts of the world.

Yes. In some cases a tornado will touch down and lift several times before dissipating. This is not to be confused with a tornado family, where a storm produces multiple tornadoes in succsession.

Not always. While increased wind speeds and changes in wind direction can be indicators of an impending tornado, there are other factors to consider as well. Tornadoes can occur with a variety of weather conditions, so it's important to pay attention to other warning signs like darkening skies, large hail, and the development of a rotating cloud.

No, the rotation of a tornado is stronger than its updraft.

There are no legends, stories, or accounts of "big winds" (tornadoes) among the Cherokee (that I know of). As an educated guess on the subject.

Because of the small nature of most tribes, combined with the destruction that would be inflicted on exposed people and structures. It is very possible that any group exposed to a tornado were wiped out so left no one to 'tell the tale' as the case maybe. Those who may have survived were most likely seen as 'addled' (mental problems) by any tribes they encountered after the experience so any tales they told were discounted. Under those premises survival would not be much different than a modern person caught unaware and without adequate shelter for protection.

A thunderstorm will cause a tornado. The thunderstorm clouds are the Cumulonimbus clouds. The majority of thunderstorms that produce tornadoes are in a special class called supercells. These are the most powerful thunderstorms on earth and are noted for having a rotating updraft called a mesocyclone.

Tornadoes typically form within thunderstorms as a result of strong updrafts and wind shear. It is rare but possible for tornadoes to form without a thunderstorm, such as in the case of landspout tornadoes which develop from different processes, like boundaries of air masses colliding.

In a tornado, the air spirals move in a combination of vertical and horizontal directions. The updraft of warm air can create a rotating column that extends from the base of the tornado to the cloud above. This combination of vertical and horizontal movement contributes to the powerful swirling motion of a tornado.

In the 30 year period of 1981-2010 Iowa averaged about 1 tornado related death per year. However, it varies widely from year to year. Some years saw not deaths from tornadoes in that state, while in 2008 13 people died from tornadoes in Iowa, 9 of them from a single tornado.

Yes, the center of a tornado, known as the "eye," contains the most powerful and destructive winds. It is characterized by intense updrafts and downdrafts that can strip buildings of their roofs, uproot trees, and hurl debris over long distances, resulting in significant destruction in its path. It is important for individuals to seek shelter immediately when a tornado warning is issued to stay safe from the destructive forces at the center of the storm.

The center of a tornado.

There is no particular instrument used for measuring tornado intensity. Ratings are based primarily on damage assessment. Occasionally doppler radar has measure wind speeds inside a tornado, but such measurements are rare.

The best place to seek shelter during a tornado is in a designated storm shelter or a basement. If neither is available, the next best option is an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building, away from windows and exterior walls. It's important to stay informed and follow the guidance of local officials during a tornado warning.

Tornadoes can occur in all regions of Virginia, but they are most common in the western and central parts of the state, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains. Tornadoes can also occur in the Tidewater and Piedmont regions, although they are less frequent.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur during severe thunderstorms, which are typically fueled by warm, moist air colliding with cool, dry air. They tend to form in the late afternoon to early evening, but can happen at any time of day if the atmospheric conditions are right. Monitoring weather alerts and being aware of severe weather patterns can help you stay safe during tornado season.

The duration of a tornado on the ground can vary widely, from a few seconds to several hours. On average, most tornadoes last less than 10 minutes. However, some long-track tornadoes have been known to stay on the ground for over an hour, causing significant damage along their path.