1.                                                                                                                                                 
TORNADOES

2. U.S averages 800 tornadoes/year; more than any country

3. Canton, MI Dec. 23, 2015
EF-1 (90 mph winds)

4.                               
933 tornadoes in 2016

5. 2016

7. Moore OK, May 20, 2013

8. definition
A vertically rotating column of air (funnel)
Low pressure

9. Conditions that favor tornado formation

10. FORMATION OF mT collides with cP (T-storm)
Strong winds aloft create horizontal spinning
Updrafts lift rotating air

12. Tornado formation – instant egghead

14. TORNADO ALLEY
Why so many tornadoes here?

15. Why do tornadoes pick up things?
“We’ve got cows”

17. In Low pressure air is ________

18. Supercell- long lived t-storm with updrafts

20. supercell

22. Multiple vortexes

23. Which way is this storm moving?

28. WATCHES AND WARNINGS TORNADO WATCH TORNADO WARNING
Conditions are favorable
mT/cP colliding
Strong updrafts
TORNADO WARNING
A tornado has formed (sited or by radar)
Take cover!

29. DOPPLER RADAR Shows wind movement;
Redshift/blueshift = horizontal rotation

30. Doppler Radar
Look for radar “hook” = TORNADO!

31. Enhanced Fujita Scale

33. Tornado season?

34. Joplin, MO May 22, 2011 EF5 160 deaths 7th worst in US history
75% of town damaged

35. DAMAGE
Most from flying debris

36. Tornado myths

37. What to do? get to a low place basement or center of house
Seek shelter under something sturdy
Don’t waste time opening windows!

38. July 2, 1997 Grosse Pointe Farms (F-4)

41. Flint-Beecher Tornado
Deadliest in Michigan
June 3, 1953
116 dead
F-5

42. :11 Owosso, MI

43. Waterspouts
Smaller
Less damaging

44. Dust devils Form in fair weather Hot air rises into cooler air
Not dangerous