Google trend - Tornado

Tornado - 10 things to know with detail

• Definition: A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. It is often visible as a funnel-shaped cloud and is capable of causing significant damage to buildings and landscapes.
• Formation: Tornadoes typically form in severe thunderstorms when warm, moist air at the surface meets cooler, drier air aloft. This creates an unstable atmosphere that can lead to the development of a rotating updraft, which can then produce a tornado.
• Size and Shape: Tornadoes can vary in size from just a few feet wide to over a mile wide. They often take on a funnel shape, with a narrow, rotating column of air extending downward from the base of a thunderstorm.
• Wind Speeds: Tornadoes are known for their strong winds, which can reach speeds of over 300 miles per hour in the most intense tornadoes. These high winds are what cause the most damage during a tornado.
• Duration: The average tornado lasts for only a few minutes, but some tornadoes can persist for much longer, traveling for miles and causing destruction along their path.
• Damage: Tornadoes are capable of causing significant damage to buildings, vehicles, and landscapes. They can uproot trees, toss debris through the air, and even level entire neighborhoods.
• Enhanced Fujita Scale: Tornadoes are rated on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which classifies tornadoes based on the damage they cause. Tornadoes are rated from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest), with each rating corresponding to a range of estimated wind speeds.
• Tornado Alley: Tornadoes are most common in a region of the United States known as Tornado Alley, which includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. This area sees a high frequency of tornadoes due to the clash of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool, dry air from the Rocky Mountains.
• Safety: The best way to stay safe during a tornado is to seek shelter in a sturdy building, preferably in a basement or interior room away from windows. If caught outside, lie flat in a low-lying area such as a ditch or culvert.
• Forecasting and Warning: Meteorologists use radar and weather data to track and forecast tornadoes, issuing tornado warnings when a tornado is imminent. It is important to heed these warnings and take appropriate precautions to stay safe during a tornado.