Tornadoes

There were over 800 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in 2013 and more elsewhere in the world. It would be impoassible to list them all. Here are some of the most significant and high-profile events.

February 10: An EF4 tornado struck Hattiesburg, Mississippi, injuring 82 people.

March 21: An F3 tornado struck several towns in Victoria, Australia, injuring 80 people. A tornado accompanied by other storms kills 24 people in China.

March 22: An intense tornado struck the Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh, killing 31 and injuring 500.

May 15: An EF4 struck Granbury, Texas, killing 6 people and injuring 54.

May 20: An EF5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, killing 24 people and injuring 377. Cost of damage: $2 billion.

May 31: A 2.6 mile wide tornado near El Reno, Oklahoma killed 8 people including renouned storm chaser, Tim Samaras.

November 17: An EF4 tornado struck Washington, Illinois, killing 2 people and injuring 125. An EF3 tornado struck Paducah, Kentucky and Brookport, Illinois, killing 3.

The 2013 El Reno tornado killed 8 people and injured 151.

The 2011 El Reno tornado killed 9 people and injured 181.

Typically most Atlantic hurricanes hit the United States before they move to the coastal regions of Canada. There have been 19 hurricanes that hit Canada in history.

Tornadoes can occur in Orlando, as they can in any part of Florida. However, Orlando does not experience tornadoes as frequently as other parts of the state, such as the "Tornado Alley" region in the central U.S. Nevertheless, it is still important for residents to be aware of tornado safety precautions.

Typically, a tornado needs wind speeds of at least 111-135 mph (Fujita scale EF2) to lift a car off the ground. Stronger tornadoes with wind speeds exceeding 166 mph (Fujita scale EF4) have the potential to lift larger and heavier objects such as cars more easily.

The tri-state tornado struck many locations along a path 219 miles long. It started near Ellington, Missouri and dissipated near Petersburg, Indiana.ntowns that were hit hard include Annapolis and Leadanna in Missouri, Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst-Bush, West Frankfort, and Maunie in Illinois, and Griffin, Owensville, and Princeton in Indiana.

Most tornadoes are considered weak, with wind speeds less than 110 mph. Strong tornadoes, with wind speeds between 111-135 mph, are less common, while violent tornadoes, with wind speeds over 136 mph, are the rarest and most destructive.

Yes, tornadoes can occur in deciduous forests. Tornadoes can develop in a variety of environments, including forested areas, and their paths are not limited by the type of vegetation present. While tornadoes are more commonly associated with open plains, they can occur in any region with the right atmospheric conditions.

Yes, Loudon, Tennessee has experienced tornadoes in the past. Tornados form due to a combination of warm, moist air colliding with cool, dry air, creating instability in the atmosphere. It is always important to stay informed and prepared for severe weather events.

The Henryville, Indiana tornado occurred on March 2, 2012.

It is inevitable that Orlando will eventually have a tornado, as it is in a tornado prone area. However we won't know when the next one will be until it actually happens.

People may damage other people's property for various reasons, such as seeking revenge, expressing anger or frustration, experiencing mental health issues, or engaging in criminal behavior. It can also be a way for individuals to exert power or control over others, or due to a lack of respect for personal boundaries.

The are a combination of factors. Tornado Alley is located in the central U.S. as that is where warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico meets with cool air from Canada and dry air from the Rocky Mountains. The warm, moist air acts a fuel for thunderstorms while the incoming cool, or dry air mass, sometimes both, act as a trigger for their development. Other conditions such as an inversion cap and wind shear (see related question for details) give these storms the potential to produce tornadoes.

These converging factors create a region ideal for tornado formation.

Flash floods can form in minutes with little or no warning, often as a result of heavy rainfall, dam or levee breaks, or sudden snowmelt. These floods can be incredibly dangerous and can cause significant damage to property and pose serious risks to human life. It is important to be aware of the signs of flash flooding and have a plan of action in place to stay safe.

As of October of 2012 the last recorded tornado ins Alaska was on July 25, 2005 near Sand Point. It was rated F0.

Expert Common Knowledge happened in 1992.

How much damage a tornado causes depends on how strong it is, how big it is, how far it travels and where it hits. The weakest tornadoes are rated EF0, capable of peeling shingles, toppling some trees, and destroying weak sheds and outbuildings. The strongest tornadoes, rated EF5, will wipe well-built houses clean off their foundations. Tornadoes range in width from just a few yards to over a mile. Obviously a very wide tornado will cause damage across a larger area than a narrow one. Similar, a tornado that travels far will cover more ground. This damage potential is increased by the fact that large, long-lived tornadoes tend to be strong ones. Finally, where a tornado hits is important. Many tornadoes have stayed in open fields and never caused any damage because they didn't hit anything. Many of large, long track tornadoes have stayed in rural areas have had their damage limited to a few farms. In the worst cases, however, tornadoes have destroyed entire towns and large swaths of cities, leaving thousands homeless.

Since 1950 one tornado, rated F2, appears to have hit Northfield on May 9, 2001.

EF stands for Enhanced Fujita scale, which is used to classify tornado intensity based on the damage caused. EF2 on the scale indicates a tornado with estimated wind speeds of 111-135 mph that can cause considerable damage.

Yes, Branson, Missouri is located within the area known as Tornado Alley, which has a higher frequency of tornadoes compared to other regions. Tornadoes can and do occur in Branson and the surrounding areas, especially during the peak tornado season from spring to early summer. It's important for residents and visitors to be aware of tornado safety procedures.

Tornadoes can cause severe damage by generating strong winds that can topple buildings, uproot trees, and hurl debris. The extreme pressure changes associated with tornadoes can also lead to structural damage and cause objects to be thrown long distances, resulting in widespread destruction. Additionally, tornadoes can create heavy rainfall, hail, and lightning, further increasing the potential for damage.

The Daulatpur-Saturia tornado of April 26, 1989 was the deadliest tornado on record with an estimated death toll of 1300. The tornado was on the ground for about 50 miles striking the cities of Daulatpur and Saturia. The extremely high death toll was the result of the tornado striking densely populated and very poor areas where shabby construction offered little protetction. This tornado was never rated; Bangladesh, where the tornado occurred, does not conduct storm surveys and poor construction makes it difficult to assess intensity.

Violent

Destructive

Dangerous

Deadly

Unpredictable

With increasing population growth and suburban sprawl there is more opportunity for tornadoes to kill people can cause major damage. The tornadoes themselves are not becoming stronger or more dangerous. In fact, the number of strong tornadoes in the United States has actually decreased in the past 60 years.