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Tornadoes are violently rotating and potentially damaging columns of air that touch the earth. Most tornadoes in the world occur in the United States, especially aptly named Tornado Alley, which stretches from west Texas to North Dakota.LiveScience: Tornado Science, Facts and History
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Fast Facts
- Most common in the United StatesLiveScience: Tornado Science, Facts and History
- Wind speeds can exceed 300 mphLiveScience: Tornado Science, Facts and History
- Can be up to a mile wide on the groundLiveScience: Tornado Science, Facts and History
- Can last a few seconds up to an hour or more
- A single storm can produce multiple tornadoes
- Strength is measured on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
- In the U.S., they usually occur between 4 and 6 p.m.LiveScience: Tornado Science, Facts and History
- Average time on the ground: Four to six minutesLiveScience: Tornado Science, Facts and History
- 1113 Avg Tornadoes in the US Annually from 1982-2008 NOAA: NOAA Stats http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=taw-part4...
- 58.7 Avg Deaths in US Annually from 1982-2008 NOAA: NOAA Stats http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=taw-part4...
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Formation
Tornadoes are formed when hot air meets cool air. As warm, humid air rises it sometimes breaks through the cool, dry air above, causing a thunder cloud. A storm develops, sucking air upward and causing winds from different directions to rotate at increasing speeds. The visible funnel cloud drops down from the sky and begins to travel across the ground. -
Enhanced Fujita Scale
- EF0 Wind Speed MPH:65-85 Damage Level: Light Enhanced Fujita Scale : Enhanced Fujita Scale
- EF1 Wind Speed MPH:86-110 Damage Level: Moderate Enhanced Fujita Scale : Enhanced Fujita Scale
- EF2 Wind Speed MPH:111-135 Damage Level: Considerable Enhanced Fujita Scale : Enhanced Fujita Scale
- EF3 Wind Speed MPH:136-165 Damage Level: Severe Enhanced Fujita Scale : Enhanced Fujita Scale
- EF4 Wind Speed MPH:166-200 Damage Level: Devastating Enhanced Fujita Scale : Enhanced Fujita Scale
- EF5 Wind Speed MPH:>200 Damage Level: Exploding Enhanced Fujita Scale : Enhanced Fujita Scale
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Managed Since: 06/25/2009
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Managed Since: 06/25/2009
Views: 340
Money Earned: M$4.95
Page revenue is subject to change as we obtain data from our partners
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The Mahalo Top 7
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Tornado Project: Myths and Misconceptions about Tornadoes
tornadoproject.com -
Tornado History Project: Tornado Map Database
tornadohistoryproject.com -
NOAA: Severe Weather
noaawatch.gov -
Education for Geo-Hazards: Tornado! Education for Disaster Risk Reduction
edu4hazards.org -
Wikipedia: Tornado
en.wikipedia.org -
BBC: Animated Guide: Tornadoes
news.bbc.co.uk -
Tornado Project: Tornado Safety
This page gives tips for tornado safety in many situations--school, shopping center, cars, and at home.tornadoproject.com
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Tornado Project: Myths and Misconceptions about Tornadoes
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Questions and Answers About Tornadoes | View All | Ask a Question
View All Tornadoes Questions (21) | Ask a QuestionWhat ever happened to the residents of Picher who lost their homes in the tornado? (1 Answer)At this time there are only about 80 residents left in the city of Picher. This was due to the government Superfund clean up effort. The government has been buying ... read moreDoes the same forces that cause a tornado cause a hurricane? (1 Answer)-----quote----- Tornadoes are formed because of instability in the atmosphere, whereas hurricanes are formed when a wet mass of air over the sea evaporates. Because of this, Tornadoes usually form ... read moreWhat sustains a vortex in a hurricane and tornado, once it forms? (1 Answer)-------quote----- The vortex of a tornado is the funnel like shape of the cloud of winds that if it goes above a certain velocity and reaches the ground then becomes ... read moreWhen/Where was the most dangerous Tornado recorded in human history? (2 Answers)Strangely, the most devastating torando is NOT the most powerful one. The most destructive one was an F5 tornado, one below the highest possible classification. However, it hit a populated ... read more
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Tornadoes on Twitter Powered by Twitter
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Ida continuing to head toward Florida and Alabama. Although, just a tropical storm, Ida can put out a lot of water and tornadoes.
@CoryFroomkin | November 09, 2009 08:36 PM -
Gulf Shores. The gift of TS Ida may be the amount of rain we get (4-8') & possibly a few tornadoes may spawn to the E. of land fall.
@GSWx | November 09, 2009 08:21 PM -
By expanding Medicaid in HC bill,Cong will set off political tornadoes in US that will leave govs & state legislators 2 clean up afterward
@spongedocks | November 09, 2009 07:57 PM -
Joe just said "using" in reference to my past addiction to oncue tornadoes.
@britneymaeve | November 09, 2009 07:42 PM -
It's been a good day so far. The weather is crap and there's a hurricane sitting off the coast threatening us with tornadoes though...
@TsukiNoMegami | November 09, 2009 07:27 PM
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