Tornadoes

When the tornado hits collapsing buildings and flying debris from damaged structures can be lethal or cause serious injury.

After a tornado power can be knocked out for days or weeks. Homes and businesses not completely destroyed may still be damaged beyond repair, leaving many without a home or workplace. For some the cost of repairs or rebuilding is too much, leading to financial difficulties. Farmers may also suffer losses from destroyed crops.

Yes, tornadoes can form in flat terrain, but they are most commonly associated with regions where there are changes in elevation. Flat terrain can still produce tornadoes if other conditions are favorable, such as a strong cold front or intense thunderstorms.

A tornadologist is a scientist who studies tornadoes and other types of severe weather phenomena. They typically specialize in meteorology, climatology, or atmospheric science to better understand the formation, behavior, and impact of tornadoes. Their research aims to improve forecasting techniques and mitigate the risks associated with tornadoes.

Tornado Alley is a term generally used to describe an area in the central United States where tornadoes are most frequent. While Kentucky is not typically considered part of Tornado Alley, it can still experience tornadoes due to its location in the Midwest. Tornadoes can occur throughout the state, but typically are more common in western and central Kentucky.

Adverbs commonly used in discussion of tornadoes include: rapidly, slowly, briefly, explosively, suddenly.

The fastest wind on earth occur in tornadoes, which have been known to have wind speeds in excess of 300 mph (480 km/h), far faster than anything a hurricane can produce.

A supercell is a powerful thunderstorm with a strong, rotating updraft called a mesocyclone. They don't so much develop into tornadoes as they produce them. How they do this is not fully understood, but it is believed that moist of the time a downdraft called a rear-flank downdraft or RFD wraps around the bottom part of the mesocyclone, tightening and intensifying it to form a tornado.

Tornadoes do not occur in Miami every year. Since 1950 Miami has had 27 tornadoes, which suggests an average of a little less than 1 tornado every 2 years.

It is difficult to directly compare the two, as the impact of volcanoes and tornadoes can vary greatly depending on various factors such as location and intensity. However, on average, tornadoes tend to cause more frequent destruction each year than volcanic eruptions due to the higher occurrence of tornadoes around the world.

Although tornadoes can cause wind erosion, but are usually not major contributors as exposure to tornadic winds is usually brief. Tornadoes are better described as natural disasters due to their destructive impacts on developed areas.

Answer

The original F-scale developed and introduced by Dr. T. Theodore Fujita was a damage scale for winds, including tornadoes, which was supposed to relate the degree of damage to the intensity of the wind. This scale was the result. The original F-scale should not be used anymore, because it has been replaced by an enhanced version. Tornado wind speeds are still largely unknown; and the wind speeds on the original F-scale have never been scientifically tested and proven. Different winds may be needed to cause the same damage depending on how well-built a structure is, wind direction, wind duration, battering by flying debris, and a bunch of other factors. Also, the process of rating the damage itself is largely a judgment call -- quite inconsistent and arbitrary (Doswell and Burgess, 1988). Even meteorologists and engineers highly experienced in damage survey techniques often came up with different F-scale ratings for the same damage. Even with all its flaws, the original F-scale was the only widely used tornado rating method for over three decades. The enhanced F-scale took effect 1 February 2007.

The Enhanced F-scale is a much more precise and robust way to assess tornado damage than the original. It classifies F0-F5 damage as calibrated by engineers and meteorologists across 28 different types of damage indicators (mainly various kinds of buildings, but also a few other structures as well as trees). The idea is that a "one size fits all" approach just doesn't work in rating tornado damage, and that a tornado scale needs to take into account the typical strengths and weaknesses of different types of construction. This is because the same wind does different things to different kinds of structures. In the Enhanced F-scale, there will be different, customized standards for assigning any given F rating to a well built, well anchored wood-frame house compared to a garage, school, skyscraper, unanchored house, barn, factory, utility pole or other type of structure. In a real-life tornado track, these ratings can be mapped together more smoothly to make a damage analysis. Of course, there still will be gaps and weaknesses on a track where there was little or nothing to damage, but such problems will be less common than under the original F-scale. As with the original F-scale, the enhanced version will rate the tornado as a whole based on most intense damage within the path. There are no plans to systematically re-evaluate historical tornadoes using the Enhanced F-scale. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/index.html To See the Complete Scale and comparison see this link. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html To Learn More about Tornados see these links TORNADO INFORMATION

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/tstorms/tornado.htm

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

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/faq/faq_tor.php

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/tstorms/tstorms_intro.htm

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/tstorms/tornado.htm

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

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/faq/faq_tor.php

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tornado/wtfaq.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00758/en/disaster/tornado.html

http://www.hubbard.lib.oh.us/tornado/tornado_faqs.htm

http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/hazard/

Tornado Climatology

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/briefings/vol2_no3/new_findings.htmlTornados and El Nino / La Nina

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/schaefer/el_nino.htm

Tornadoes are not given names. Hurricanes and tropical storms are given names to help keep track of them and to remember significant storms. Names are assigned from a predetermined alphabetical list.

Tornadoes usually form over land due to temperature and moisture differences in the atmosphere. The coastal regions of the United States typically have more stable atmospheric conditions and are influenced by the moderating effects of the nearby ocean, which makes it less conducive for tornado formation.

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air with powerful winds that can cause damage. The winds can vary greatly in strength. In some cases they may cause damage some roofs and knock down a few trees, perhaps lifting some shingles and twigs.

In a stronger tornado whole roofs may be torn off and sections of wooded areas flattened. Large objects such as roofs and even cars may briefly become airborne.

In the strongest tornadoes well-built houses will be completely destroyed, some possibly wiped clean of their foundations. Very large objects such as houses, train cars, and heavy construction equipment may be carried significant distance.

For information on how tornadoes form, see the related question below.

A tornado can be compared to a vacuum cleaner because both create a powerful, swirling force that can cause significant damage in their path.

No country really calls a cyclone a tornado. Some parts of the U.S. a tornado a cyclone, though a tornado and a cyclone are two different things.

In the U.S. however a strong tropical cyclone is called a hurricane.

Tornadoes are not limited to flat lands and contrary to popular belief hills do not hinder tornadoes. On many occasions they have been spotted in hilly or mountainous areas. Tornadoes are very common the the Great Plains of North America, which are flat, but this has more to do with climate than topography.

On average, tornadoes cause about 70-80 fatalities and 1,500 injuries per year in the United States. The number of deaths and injuries can vary widely based on the severity of the tornado and the level of preparedness in the affected areas. It is important for individuals to have a plan in place to stay safe during tornado events.

Tornadoes do not have a positive impact on the environment. They can cause destruction to ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and infrastructure. The devastation from tornadoes can take years to recover from and disrupt the natural balance of the affected areas.

If caught outside during a tornado, find a low-lying area like a ditch and lie flat with your hands covering your head. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges or overpasses. If possible, try to locate a sturdy building for protection.

People living in tornado-prone areas have adapted by building tornado-resistant infrastructure, installing early warning systems, creating emergency plans, and having designated shelters. They also stay informed about weather patterns and are trained to take immediate action when tornado warnings are issued. Additionally, community drills and education programs help prepare residents for potential tornado disasters.

Generally not. If a tornado is closing in on you a car is one of the most dangerous places to be. If you are in a car and a tornado is coming close get out of it and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If no such shelter is available take cover in a ditch or depression.

In terms of power, volcanoes are typically the most powerful on this list, as they have the ability to cause widespread destruction over large areas. Hurricanes and earthquakes are also considered very powerful natural disasters, capable of causing immense damage and loss of life. Tornadoes, sandstorms, and plagues can also be deadly, but their reach and impact are generally more localized compared to the others.

Tornadoes in the Midwest can move in any direction, but generally travel northeast.

All 50 states have reported tornadoes. The inland states and Alaska do not get hurricanes though some other storm systems can be just as strong. The eastern states are generally not prone to major earthquakes.