Tornadoes

There are three scales for measuring tornado strength, all of which use damage to estimate wind speed.

The first and most famous is the Fujita scale, developed in 1971. This scale rates tornadoes from F0 at the weakest to F5 at the strongest. Most countries that take the time to rate their tornadoes use this scale.

The next scale to be creates is the TORRO scale, developed in 1975 which runs from T0 at the weakest to T11 at the strongest. There are two TORRO categories for every Fujita category, for example a T0 or T1 tornado is equivalent to an F0 while a T10 or T11 is equivalent to an F5. This scale is used in only a few European nations.

Finally there is the Enhanced Fujita scale developed in 2007.It runs from EF0 to EF5. This scale was derived from the Fujita scale and provides more accurate wind speed estimates than the original scale, particularly where the original wind estimates for F3 and stronger tornadoes were far too high. Currently this scale is only used in the United States, though Canada plans to adopt the scale in 2013. All U.S. tornadoes prior to February of 2007 and all Canadian tornadoes prior to 2013 retain their original Fujita ratings.

Yes and no. The funnel of a tornado does not have to reach the ground for damaging winds to occur at ground level. However, if those winds reach the ground then the tornado has touched down even if the funnel hasn't.

Strong winds alone cannot create a tornado. Tornadoes need a specific setup of air movement within a thunderstorm in order to develop. That said, one component believed to play a key role in tornado formation is something called a rear-flank downdraft, or RFD. Winds from the RFD can reach or exceed 80 mph.

In terms of tornadoes themselves, 80 mph would be near the upper end of the estimated wind range of an EF0 tornado (65-85 mph).

No, tornadoes can move at speeds greater than 40 miles per hour. The average forward speed of a tornado is around 30 mph, but some tornadoes can reach speeds of over 70 mph. The speed at which a tornado moves can vary depending on the storm and atmospheric conditions.

Tornadoes form when warm, moist air at the surface rises and meets cooler, drier air aloft. This creates spinning columns of air called mesocyclones, which can then be funneled downward to the ground by surrounding updrafts and downdrafts within a thunderstorm.

A tornado forms from thunderstorms. The thunderstorm starts turning because the wind at different heights is going in different directions and at different speeds. Sometimes this turning in the storm gets focused into a smaller area and starts spinning faster, becoming a tornado.

A tornado picks up objects through its strong rotating winds, which create a powerful upward draft. The wind speed and direction in a tornado create a low-pressure system at its center, which allows it to lift and carry objects, ranging from debris to vehicles, for miles.

Such experiments help to capture the imagination and interest of children and foster an interest in science. Some of these children may then grow up to become scientists who work toward advancing scientific knowledge and technology.

A tornado in a bottle is created to demonstrate the vortex motion of a tornado. It helps visualize the swirling motion and updrafts associated with tornadoes, without the destructive force or dangers of a real tornado.

Tornadoes vary widley in size and speed. The average tornado is 50 to 100 yards wide, has winds of 80 to 90 mph, and travels at 30-35 mph. However tornadoes can range anywhere from less than 10 yards wide to over 2 miles wide, can have winds from 65 mph to over 300 mph, and can be nearly stationary or travel at over 70 mph.

Tornadoes do not usually travel in a straight line. They can change direction and speed rapidly, making them unpredictable and dangerous. Tornado paths are often characterized by erratic and twisting movements as they move across the landscape.

The low pressure inside a tornado pulls air inward. This air accelerates to great speeds as it enters the tornado, though due to the spin not much of the air actually reaches the center. Generally lower pressure means faster winds, and thus more potential for damage.

A tornado classified as EF-5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale causes the most damage. These tornadoes have wind speeds of over 200 mph and are capable of destroying well-built homes and leveling entire neighborhoods.

Humidity itself does not cause tornadoes. Tornadoes form from the interaction of different air masses with varying temperature, humidity, and wind conditions. High humidity levels can contribute to the instability needed for severe thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes under the right atmospheric conditions.

tornado is often made visible by a distinctive funnel-shaped cloud. Commonly called the condensation funnel, the funnel cloud is a tapered column of water droplets that extends downward from the base of the parent cloud. It is commonly mixed with and perhaps enveloped by dust and debris lifted from the surface.

If you mean a twenty percent chance of precipitation, yes. In some cases a system will produce isolated supercell thunderstorms which have the potential to produce tornadoes. While most places would not see any rain from these storms, there would be the potential for tornadoes.

Lightning occurs within tornadoes due to intense convective forces and the separation of electrical charges within the storm. As air rises rapidly inside the tornado, friction between particles can create and build up static electricity, leading to lightning discharges.

It is due to something called the conservation of angular momentum. When something is spinning and you pull it into a smaller radius, it speeds up. Tornadoes form when a mesocyclone, the rotating updraft of a thunderstorm, is squeezed into a tighter, more intense circulation.

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.

If you mean wind speeds, there have been.

On May 24, 2011 Doppler radar measured winds in a tornado to over 210 mph.

On April 26, 1991 Dopper radar measured winds in a tornado of at least 257 mph.

On May 3, 1999 Doppler radar measured the highest wind ever recorded in a tornado at 302 mph.

Aside from direct measurement, since the Enhanced Fujita scale was created in 2007 the U.S. has had seven tornadoes with winds estimated to be over 200 mph based on damage.

Tornadoes can vary in size, with the majority being around 50-200 feet wide. However, they can range from very small, known as gustnadoes or landspouts, to very large, with diameters exceeding one mile. The Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to categorize tornadoes based on their intensity and resulting damage.

The funnel of a tornado is caused by condensation, due to the pressure drop and resulting temperature drop inside it. Temperature and pressure also decrease with increasing altitude, making it easier for condensation to occur and causing the funnel to be wider at the top. At the bottom, the pressure and temperature may only be low enough for condensation at the very center of the tornado.

Tornadoes are able to stay off the ground due to the incredibly strong updrafts and rotation within the thunderstorm that created them. These updrafts keep the tornado suspended in the air as it moves along the ground.

Techincally, 100%. If it does not touch the ground it is not considered a tornado. The number of potential tornadoes that do not touch down is not known, as these weaker circulations are often difficult to detect.

Tornado size is typically determined by the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which considers the tornado's estimated wind speeds and the damage caused. The EF scale ranges from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest), with tornado size typically increasing with higher EF ratings. Additionally, meteorologists may also assess the tornado's width and the path length to get a comprehensive understanding of its size.