Tornadoes

No, buildings do not explode due to low pressure in a tornado. The destructive force in a tornado comes from high-speed winds and flying debris, not pressure differentials. Buildings may collapse or sustain damage from the strong winds and debris impact.

They are both the same thing but people just call them different names.

There do not appear to be any reliable records of tornadoes spawned by the Galveston hurricane. There is a chance that the storm did produce tornadoes, but back in 1900 there was no system of record keeping for tornadoes as there is today.

Tornadoes need the right conditions in order to form. Convective instability, wind shear, and the temperature profile of the air are all factors that must come together in the right way for tornadoes to form. Climate affects all of these factors, so how often tornadoes occur in one area or another is due to climate.

Tornadoes can be scary and dangerous for people. They can destroy buildings, knock down trees, and even hurt or kill people. It's important to listen to weather alerts and seek shelter if there is a tornado warning in your area.

The National Weather Service was aware of the tornado well in advance and issued a tornado warning in Greensburg 39 minutes before it was hit and a tornado emergency 12 minutes before. The people of Greensburg responded accordingly by seeking shelter in their basements and interior rooms, giving them as much shelter as they could get.

Tornadoes can hit any part of Texas, but they are more common in the eastern and central regions of the state. Areas closer to the Gulf Coast are less prone to tornado activity compared to the northern and central areas of Texas. However, it is important to note that tornadoes can occur anywhere in Texas.

The second stage of a typical tornado's life cycle is the mature stage. During this stage, the tornado is fully developed and at its most intense, with a distinct funnel shape and strong winds. The tornado is at its peak strength and causes the most damage during this stage.

The process of tornado formation usually starts about three miles above the ground, within a thunderstorm. A larger, less intense circulation, called a mesocyclone, tightens and stretches, extending toward the ground. The funnel itself is a result of moist air being drawn into the vortex. The low pressure inside the vortex causes temperature to drop, which in turn causes condensation.

A thunderstorm does not become either. Thunderstorms produce tornadoes. Clusters of thunderstorms can become hurricanes.

In short, if a strong thunderstorm encounters wind shear in the right configuration, meaning wind changes speed and direction with altitude, it can star to rotate. The rotation is focused in an area a few miles wide called a mesocyclone. Sometimes a downdraft at the back of the storm will then wrap around the mesocyclone, causing it to tighten and intensify to forma tornado.

A hurricane most often starts out as an area of low pressure and disorganized showers and storms called a tropical disturbance. If the disturbance moves out over warm ocean water, where the is plentiful warm, moist air then more storms will form within it. The updrafts of the storms cause the pressure in the disturbance to drop, which increases the wind speed and draws in more air to feed the storms. As the wind speed increases the Coriolis effect, a consequence of Earth's rotation, will cause the system to start rotating. When the system develops a definite rotation then it is classified as a tropical depression. When sustained winds reach 39 miles per hour it is a tropical storm. When winds reach 74 mph the storm is classified as a hurricane.

Yes. Or at least there have probably been tornadoes for as long has Earth has had approximately the same atmosphere that it has now.

As of April 29, 2016 the most recent confirmed tornadoes were on April 27 in a small outbreak across the Midwest and Ohio valley. More tornadoes may develop today with the greatest risk in Oklahoma and Texas. Thunderstorms with the potential to produce tornadoes are occurring as this answer is being written.

Tornadoes themselves are not directly caused by climate change, but there is evidence that a warming climate could lead to changes in atmospheric conditions that may affect tornado frequency or intensity. However, the relationship between tornadoes and climate change is complex, and more research is needed to fully understand the connection.

Hail most often occurs ahead of the tornado but it also frequently found in the hook of the storm, which wraps around behind and to the left of the tornado (with respect to its movement) in the northern hemisphere and to the right of it in the southern hemisphere.

An underground parking garage is generally a safer place to be during a tornado than being in an open area, as it provides more protection from strong winds and flying debris. However, there may still be risks such as flooding or structural damage, so it is important to stay informed and follow any safety protocols in place.

Tornadoes can cause significant damage to buildings by strong winds and flying debris, resulting in roof damage, broken windows, and structural collapse. Additionally, tornadoes can uproot trees and utility poles, leading to power outages and road blockages.

The safest thing to do when encountering a tornado while in a car is to find a sturdy building to seek shelter in or to get out of the car and lie flat in a low-lying area, away from trees and vehicles. Never try to outrun a tornado in your car.

Movement of the Earth's plates does not directly cause tornadoes. Tornadoes are usually formed by the interaction of warm, moist air and cold, dry air in the atmosphere, along with specific weather conditions like thunderstorms. Plate tectonics, which involves the movement of the Earth's crustal plates, occurs within the Earth's lithosphere and is not directly related to tornado formation.

Thunderstorms:

Avoid going outside if possible. Do not enter any bodies of water. Do not take shelter under a tree. Avoid taking baths and showers or using appliances that are plugged in. Stay away from windows of strong winds or hail are possible.

Hurricanes:

Evacuate ahead of the storm if you are told to do so. Board up windows in advance if possible. If you are riding out the storm stock up on water, batteries, and food that does not need to be cooked or refrigerated. Remain inside at all times and stay away from windows. Move to an upper floor if any flooding occurs.

Tornadoes:

Take cover in an underground shelter if possible. If it is not possible, seek shelter in an interior room or closet on the lowest floor. Stay away from windows. If you are in a trailer home leave it for sturdier shelter. Do not attempt to outrun the storm.

A hurricane would likely have the greatest range of pressure. Hurricanes typically have very low central pressures, which can drop significantly as they intensify. Middle latitude cyclones and tornadoes can also exhibit pressure variations, but hurricanes are known for the largest pressure differentials across the storm system.

It depends on the strength of the tornado. Most tornadoes are rated F0 and F1. These tornadoes can damage roofs, break windows, and topple some trees. Trailers may be overturned or badly damaged.

Most of the serious damage is cause by the strongest 4% of tornadoes, those rated F3, F4, and F5.

An F3 tornado can largely destroy most houses, sometimes leaving only a few walls standing. Most trees will be uprooted and trailers don't stand a chance.

An F4 tornado will level most houses to the ground and can strip the bark from a tree.

Virtually nothing can withstand the full force of an F5 tornado. Houses are swept clean off their foundations.

F4 and F5 tornadoes have been known to wipe out larges sections of towns.

Yes, a tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. When it touches the ground, it can cause significant damage due to its strong winds and destructive potential. Tornadoes are typically accompanied by severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

A tornado that levels well-constructed houses, creates large missiles, and throws cars around would likely be rated as a high-end EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. EF5 tornadoes have wind speeds exceeding 200 mph and cause catastrophic damage.

Tornadoes often bring down trees, which can increase soil erosion. On rare occasions tornadoes can directly scour away the topsoil as well. Overall, tornadoes are not significant contributors to erosion and deposition.