Tornadoes

An EF2 tornado is considered the beginning of a strong or significant tornado. An EF2 tornado has estimated winds of 111-135 mph. These winds can tear roofs from well built houses, snap large trees, toss cars, and completely obliterate mobile homes. While tornadoes of this strength do not usually kill they are still very dangerous.

They don't.

In regard to tornadoes, the downtown areas of major cities are relatively small targets, making them easy to miss. However, major cities have been hit by significant tornadoes including Birmingham, Alabama; Forth Worth, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; St Louis, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; and Raleigh, North Carolina among others. Weak tornadoes have even hit New York City.

For hurricanes the size of a city isn't as much of an issue as hurricanes are enormous compared with tornadoes and affect very large areas. However, hurricanes are limited in where they can occur to relatively warm ocean water. Cities that are inland generally cannot be reached by hurricanes. Cold water and winds off the U.S. Pacific coast and westward-blowing winds in the hurricane forming regions to the south make it nearly impossible for hurricanes to strike the U.S. west coast. Cold water off the northeast coast also suppresses hurricanes, but a few have slipped through to New England. Most hurricanes in the U.S. hit the Gulf coast or the southern Atlantic coast. Major U.S. cities that have been hit hard be hurricanes include Galveston, Texas; Mobile, Alabama; Miami, Florida; and Providence, Rhode Island.

It was definitely worse than the April 22-25, 2010 tornado outbreak. That outbreak resulted in 12 deaths, of which 10 were from tornadoes (one tornado actually).

Preliminary reports indicate that the March 2, 2012 tornado outbreak killed at least 40 people. Hundreds are said to be injured. Damage is estimated at $1.5 billion. This outbreak is probably one of the worst outbreaks of recent history. The severity is comparable to the Super Tuesday outbreak of February 2008.

Yes, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) could downgrade the Moderate Risk (MDT) of severe thunderstorms to a Slight Risk if new data or analysis suggests a reduced threat of severe weather. This decision is based on ongoing monitoring of atmospheric conditions and the latest forecast models.

The 60 percent tornado risk from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is used to highlight areas with a higher likelihood of tornadoes within a specific severe weather outlook. It is based on meteorological data and modeling, and it serves as a tool for emergency preparedness and response by indicating where the greatest tornado risk exists.

A Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. While not as severe as a Tornado Warning, it still poses a significant risk to life and property. It is important to stay vigilant and be prepared to take shelter if necessary.

Pay attention to local weather broadcasts. You may also want to visit the National Weather Service website (see the link below) to see what weather alerts are in your area. You need not worry too much, as a slight risk from the storm prediction center does not mean there is an immediate threat.

If severe weather does move into your area, see if you have a battery operated weather radio as severe storms can cause power outages.

A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. It means you should stay informed and be prepared to take action if a tornado warning is issued for your area. It is a warning for potential tornado development, not a guarantee that a tornado will occur.

Generally not, unless the house is very poorly built. Typical F1 damage to a house includes holes torn in the roof or loss of the roof surface, peeled siding, broken windows, and possibly the collapse of a garage door.

See the links below for a few examples.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/f1.htm

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/fsd/events/tor2010jun25/Damage1.jpg

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/oun/wxevents/20030508/damagephotos/nws/survey05.jpg

The average tornado is 50 yards (45 meters) wide.

The condensation funnel of a tornado is basically a cloud formed when moisture inside a tornado condenses and in that sense it is similar to an ordinary cloud.

The debris cloud of a tornado is a cloud of debris picked up by a tornado usually from buildings and trees the tornado has damaged or destroyed.

Tornadoes can vary in size, with most being between 100 to 600 meters wide. However, there have been larger ones that exceed 2 km in diameter and smaller ones known as rope tornadoes that are thin and narrow.

The greatest distance a tornado is recorded to have traveled is 219 miles.

A tornado in the southern hemisphere is still called a tornado.

Tornadoes can vary greatly in size, with most being around 50 to 100 meters wide. The largest tornadoes on record have been over 2 miles wide and can stay on the ground for over 100 miles. These are very rare and extreme cases.

Scientists who study tornadoes do various things. Some such as Josh Wurman use a Doppler radar mounted on a truck to gather wind and other data from a distance. Others work on deploying probes, which carry scientific instruments, to take measurements from directly inside a tornado. Still other scientists work on creating computer models of thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Tornadoes occur at night the same way they do during the day.

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.

On average, there are around 1,000 tornadoes reported worldwide each year. However, this number can vary greatly from year to year based on weather patterns and reporting methods. The United States experiences the most tornadoes of any country, with an average of around 1,200 tornadoes annually.

The tropical funnel cloud in the Pacific Ocean is likely a waterspout, which is a tornado that forms over water. They are typically weaker than tornadoes over land but can still be dangerous to boats and ships in the area. It is important to stay away from waterspouts and seek shelter if you are in the affected area.

Cells form from the division of pre-existing cells through the process of cell division, which includes both mitosis for somatic cells and meiosis for reproductive cells. This allows for growth, development, and repair in multicellular organisms.

Tornadoes cannot be controlled or manipulated by human intervention. They are natural phenomena that form as a result of specific weather conditions, and are typically unpredictable in terms of their path and intensity. The focus is on improving early warning systems and emergency preparedness to minimize the impact of tornadoes.

The planet with tornadoes most frequently is Earth. Tornadoes are most common in the Central United States, known as Tornado Alley, where warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cool, dry air from the Rocky Mountains, creating the perfect conditions for tornado formation.