Tornadoes

Tornadoes in the U.S. are rated on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which has six strength categories ranging from EF0 at the weakest to EF5 at the strongest. It was adapted from the similar Fujita scale, which is still used in a number of countries.

They listen for warnings. If one is issued they go to their basement, cellar, or some other room deemed safe from tornadoes, preferably one in the center part of the house. People who live in trailers leave for studier shelter. Some trailer parks have storm shelters.

You take cover as soon as it gets reported to you!

Tornado in the U.S. most frequently occur on the Great Plains.

Move away from where tornados happen, Dig a basement, live underground, buy insurance, Extend the roofline to the ground, Install metal or hurricane resistance shingles.

"Fujita" is a Japanese surname that can be translated to mean "wisteria rice field" in English, with "fuji" referring to wisteria and "ta" meaning rice field or paddy. It is a common family name in Japan and may also refer to various places or institutions. The name is often associated with beauty and nature due to the significance of wisteria in Japanese culture.

F5 is the highest level on the Fujita scale, indicating an extremely violent tornado. A rating of F5 means that a tornado is strong enough to completely blow away well built houses, leaving nothing but a bare foundation. On the original Fujita scale F5 winds were estimated at 261-318 mph. However, newer data showed that these wind estimates were far too high. On the more accurate Enhanced Fujita scale a tornado with estimated winds over 200 mph is rated EF5, though the damage remains the same. Fortunately such tornadoes are extremely rare, accounting for one tornado in every 2000.

It is impossible to make such a prediction. Where a specific tornado may hit cannot be predicted more than a few minutes ahead of time. However, for today, April 7, 2012 the chances of a tornado forming anywhere in the U.S. are minimal.

People find tornadoes terrifying because they can kill and seriously injure people and can destroy homes in a matter of seconds. They are difficult to predict and hit quickly, often with only a few minutes of warning, and sometimes no warning.

Yes. McAllen, Texas has been hit by a few weak tornadoes.

tornados hit the U.S. on average 1200 per year

No. An isolated storm is simply a thunderstorm that forms in an area where just a few other thunderstorms are occurring. Such storms generally cannot produce tornadoes.

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. The thunderstorms that produce tornadoes usually come from stronger and better organized systems than those that produce isolated thunderstorms.

under the bed or in your warddrobe/draws

They are both important but more severe would be a tornado warning. A watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes meaning you should be watching the weather, prepare a place to go, and watch the skies, local media, and on what ever you monitor the weather with online. I use the NWS but some people use local media and others use it all. Also, make sure that you have a NOAA weather radio to alert you if something happens

There were no reports of any deaths from the tornadoes on April 3, 2012.

Not usually. Tornadoes are usually associated with cold fronts or dry lines.

Yes. Glen Rose was hit by an EF1 tornado on April 10, 2008.

The last tornado in Odessa, Tx was on 9/01/2010 EF0, Path Length: 1/4 mile. 0 deaths, 0 injured.

they most likely occur in Florida or the mostly occur in Texas

Unlike hurricane season there are not official limits to tornado season. However, generally tornado season lasts from lat march though June. However significant tornado outbreaks can occur at almost any time of year.

There were no deaths from the tornado on April 2, nor the Dallas tornado on April 3.

From 1990 to 2010 (for which accurate tornado records are available) Minnesota has averaged 44 tornadoes per year.

Yes. Dover has been hit by three tornadoes since records began in 1950. One in 1963, one in 1965, and another in 1994.

There were 1424 confirmed tornadoes in the U.S. in 1998, making it an active year.