Tornadoes

Tornadoes can occur in Maryland, but they are relatively rare compared to other states in the tornado alley region. Maryland experiences an average of around 10 tornadoes per year, with the peak tornado season typically occurring in late spring and early summer. It's important for residents to stay informed about weather alerts and have a plan in place in case a tornado does occur.

A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. It is primarily composed of air in the gaseous state, but it can also carry dust, debris, and water in various states of matter as it moves along its path.

No. A typical hurricane lasts several days, and some last for weeks. A typical tornado only lasts a few minutes, and some last only a few seconds. On very rare occasions a tornado may last a few hours.

F5 and EF5 are essentially the same thing. They are equivalent levels on two different, albeit similar scales of tornado intensity. Both the Fujita (F) scale and the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale used damage to estimate wind speed, but the EF scale has better wind estimates for its damage levels.

F5 is the highest category on the Fujita scale with the main damage criterion being well built houses wiped clean off their foundations. The wind speed estimate for this degree of damage was 261-318 mph. However, when the Fujita scale was created in 1971 nobody had ever measured the winds of a tornado so we had no way of knowing how accurate these estimates were.

Similar to F5, EF5 is the highest level on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The damage criteria are essentially the same (e.g. ell built houses blown away), though there is more detail and the construction standars needed are somewhat higher. However the wind speed estimate has been lowered to 201+ mph. The lower wind estimate leads some people to think that an EF5 isn't as strong as an F5, but this is not true. It turns out that on the original scale the wind estimates for F3 damage and higher, were too high. So instead of taking a 261 mph wind to completely blow away a house, as was thought until the 21st century, it only takes a wind of about 200 mph.

Because of the higher construction standards it is somewhat harder for a tornado to attain an EF5 rating than an F5 rating. One researcher has examined several EF4 tornadoes in recent years and concluded that they would likely have been rated F5 had they occurred when the original Fujita scale was still in effect.

It is difficult to determine especially since a single tornado will oftern vary in size. A likely candidate is the Sherman, Texas tornado of May 15, 1896. This tornado was farily large among much of its path, averaging just under 1/4 mile wide. The actual F5 damage was in the town of Sherman near the end of the path, where the tornado had narrowed to only 60 yards wide. About 50 homes were destroyed of which 20 were completely obliterated.

Another candidate is the Elie, Manitoba tornado of June 22, 2007. This tornado was somewhat similar to the one that hit Sherman in that the F5 damage ocurred when the tornado narrowed near the end of its lifespan. The tornado reached a maximum width of 330 yards, causing mostly F1 and F2 damage. Near the end of its meandering path it narrowed to less than 100 yards wide and became extremely intense, destoying several homes on the edge of Elie. A well-anchored brick house was ripped from its foundation and thrown.

There is no way to say for certain until it is said and done. However it is possible, one tornado has already been reported in Mississippi but not confirmed.

Yes, tornadoes can form in Corning, NY, though they are relatively rare in this region compared to areas like the central United States. The town's proximity to the Great Lakes and the Appalachian Mountains can influence the conditions necessary for tornado formation. It is essential to have a plan in place and be aware of tornado warnings and alerts.

The rotation of a tornado originates from a larger but less intense circulation called a mesocyclone, which creates an area of low pressure. A tornado forms when the mesocyclone tightens and stretches toward the ground. This causes the winds and the low pressure to intensify.

Tornado season has no defined beginning or end, but it generally lasts from spring to the beginning of summer, though it varies from year to year. In the U.S., which experiences the most tornadoes, this generally runs from March to June, peaking in May. Generally the highest activity shifts northward as the year progresses until summer. Southern states such as Alabama and Mississippi often peak in March and April while Oklahoma and Kansas usually peak in May. Northern states such as Minnesota and the Dakotas usually peak in June.

One note though is tornadoes are not limited to tornado season; they can happen at any time of year. Tornado season is simply a time when tornado activity is higher.

Tornadoes can occur in Wyoming, but they are most commonly found in the eastern part of the state, particularly in regions like Laramie, Cheyenne, and Casper. These areas are more prone to experiencing tornadoes due to the typical weather patterns and atmospheric conditions that favor tornado development.

Since tornadoes are a form of weather, they are studied by weather scientists. A weather scientist is a meteorologist.

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It is similar to the SPF number on sunscreens, but it is used for clothing.

15-24 is Good, and 50+ is 'Ultimate'.

Once a tornado touches down, very little has a major impact on it. An established tornado can pass over buildings, trees, hills, and even mountains without weakening. The tornado is more affected by the air masses within a thunderstorm.

In terms of effects the tornado has, vegetation and man made structures in the tornado's path are usually damaged or destroyed. In the most violent tornadoes of the top 0.5% or so roads and topsoil may be stripped away.

Yes. Rogers, Arkansas has been hit by tornadoes before and many more have occurred nearby. In general Arkanas is a tornado prone state and contrary to popular belief, not town or city is "protected."

The corner of the basement or a small central room would be the safest place

Since a flying object could possibly crash into a window, and broken glass itself can cause a serious injury don't stand too close to a window.

There were 866 recorded tornadoes in the U.S. in 1980. Note however that at this point in history a significant portion of weak tornadoes were missed and most tornadoes are weak. The actual number of tornadoes was probably significantly higher than this figure.

Likely the worst thing that a tornado could hit would be a nuclear power plant. The reactor core itself is strong enough to withstand even the most violent tornadoes, but as the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan showed, a disaster that takes out the support systems can lead to a meltdown.

Another nightmare scenario is the potential for a large, violent tornado to strike a major highway packed with rush hour traffic. In such a situation, people would be trapped in the tornado's path and cars offer little protection. Such a scenario could potentially result in hundreds or even thousands of deaths. Such an event almost occurred on May 31, 2013 when a 2.6-mile-wide tornado began to move along I-40 toward Oklahoma City. Fortunately the tornado dissipated before reaching heavy traffic, though 8 people, all in cars, still lost their lives.

Similar concerns exist for the potential for a tornado to strike a crowded venue such as a sports arena or a concert, where people would have little chance to get to safety. In 2008 a tornado struck the Georgia Dome in Atlanta during a basketball game, but fortunately was not strong enough to cause major damage. In 2011 a severe thunderstorm struck the Indiana State Fair. Through no tornado occurred, a severe wind gust cause a stage to collapse, killing seven people and injuring many more.

Elementary schools are also a source of concern. Major tornadoes have struck schools before, killing students. Most recently, in 2013, an EF5 struck two elementary schools in Moore, Oklahoma. Seven 3rd graders were killed at one school. In 1987 a tornado destroyed a church that was holding a head-start graduation, killing 22 people. Most of the dead were parents shielding their children from the debris.

The lowest risk of tornadoes is generally in regions located near the equator, such as the equatorial regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. These areas experience less tornado activity due to the lack of significant temperature variations and weather patterns conducive to tornado formation.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur in Tennessee during the spring and early summer months, especially in April and May. These months typically have the right conditions for severe weather to form, increasing the likelihood of tornadoes.

Yes. Tornadoes are fairly common in Missouri and western Missouri is in Tornado Alley. St Louis has seen several very destructive tornadoes.

Recently, on May 22, 2011 the city of Joplin, Missouri was absolutely devastated by an EF5 tornado that killed 158 people, the deadliest tornado to hit the U.S. since 1947 and the seventh deadliest tornado in U.S. history. Damage totaled $2.8 billion, making it the costliest tornado in U.S. history even after adjustments for inflation.

Tornadoes can bring down trees, with intense ones sometimes leveling sections of forest. They can also severely damage developed areas, with th very worst tornadoes leveling entire neighborhoods.

It depends. There are no official boundaries to Tornado Alley and it is shown differently on different maps. Some maps would include Killeen while others would put Killeen slightly south of Tornado Alley.

However, even if it is outside Tornado Alley it can still be hit by strong tornadoes.

Yes. Although hilly or mountainous terrain can sometimes disrupt mechanisms that help tornadoes form, once a tornado touches down hills will not affect it. Some tornadoes even gain strength when passing over hills.