1. Environmental Science – Severe Weather
Tornadoes
Environmental Science – Severe Weather

2. Tornadoes
Tornadoes are the smallest, most violent, and shortest-lived severe storm.
Occur along cold front.
It is a rotating column of air with high wind speeds and a funnel-shaped cloud that results from a thunderstorm.

3. Tornado Formation
In the United States, tornadoes form when cold, dry air from Canada meets warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico causing the rising and rotating of air.

4. Steps to Tornado Formation
Wind traveling in two directions causes a layer of air in the middle to begin to rotate like a roll of toilet paper.
The rotating column of air is turned to a vertical position by strong updrafts of air within the cumulonimbus cloud.
The rotating column of air works its way down to the bottom of the cumulonimbus cloud and forms a funnel cloud.
The funnel cloud touches the ground.

5. Tornado Alley
In the United States, tornadoes are most likely to occur in the late spring to early summer.
Tornado Alley refers to the region of the U.S. that has a high frequency of tornadoes
Central U.S. stretching up from Texas up through the Midwest

7. Measuring Tornadoes Tornado Watch – (be prepared)
tornadoes are possible in the area
Tornado Warning – (take action)
a tornado has been spotted in the area, sirens sound, take the necessary precautions
Tornadoes are measured using the enhanced Fujita scale. This scale is categorized by wind speeds with ratings of EF0 – EF5.

9. Tornado Resources https://www.brainpop.com/science/weather/tornadoes/
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