1. Tornadoes

2. Tornados Smallest, most violent storms in the world
Swirling cone of wind and dust
A tornado picks up or sweeps up debris
Rocks, dust, glass, cars/trucks, cows!

3. Tornado Damage Wind gusts up to 300 miles per hour Splintered trees
Damaged homes
Smashed cars
People and animals hurt or killed
Can drop objects miles away from their original location

6. Data Tornados kill up to 70 people per year
Tornadoes can injure 15,000 people per year

7. How do Tornadoes Form?
Warm air mass slams into a cold air mass

8. Supercell Thunderstorm
Air is filled with moisture
Warm air is near the ground
A cold air mass is above the warm air
Air masses meet

9. Updraft: Warm air rises
Warm air cools as it rises
When the air cools, the water in the air condenses
Clouds form
Clouds build up quickly and fill with rain

10. At 30,000 ft, the air will no longer rise
The air will flatten out and spread out
The storm looks like a wide flat cloud HIGH up the sky
You can actually see the clouds rotating

11. Mesocyclone Winds at different heights move in different directions
Winds move at different speeds
OR BOTH!

12. Tornado Alley Tornado alley is perfect for the formation of tornados.
Warm air mass flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
Cold air flows down from Canada

14. Tornado Alley Warm air contains moisture Cold air is dry
Conditions are perfect for the air masses to meet and fight with each other!!
Tornado Season: March, April and May

15. Waterspouts Tornadoes that occur over water
Pick up water, boats, other debris and fish!
It can “rain” fish on land

16. EF Scale (Enhanced Fujita)_
Dr. Theodore Fujita “Dr. Tornado”
Came up with a scale to measure the strength of tornados based on the damage they cause.
EFO to EF6

17. STATS 74% of all tornadoes are EF0 to EF1
25% of tornadoes are EF2 – EF3
1% of all tornadoes are EF4 – EF5
Forecasters can not predict the strength of a tornado in advance.

18. Doppler Radar Uses invisible radio waves to locate objects
Measures wind direction and speed
Images can tell forecasters when a tornado is forming inside a mesocyclone

19. Anemometer Measures wind speed Cups catch the wind
Cups spin around and how fast they spin determines the strength of the wind

20. Tornado Watch Conditions are right for a tornado to form
The “tornado watch” can cover a large area
This information comes from Doppler Radar

21. Tornado Warning A tornado has been spotted
You should take cover immediately
Sirens will go off
A “tornado warning” covers a small area