Causes, Types and Ratings of Tornadoes

The same storm system that went through Arkansas also ripped through Tennessee. In Murfreesboro, where there were reports of two tornadoes touching down, a mother and her three year old child were swept out of their house and killed. As of my writing this, there were at least thirty people injured.

Have you ever really wondered what causes tornadoes? After all of this, I became curious and decided to do a little digging. This is what I found, and I would like to share it with you.

Two different air masses collide, forming tornadoes. These air masses are cooler polar air and warm and tropical moist air. When they meet they create the potential for extremely severe weather and/or tornadoes.

Most tornadoes are formed during what is called "super cell thunderstorms" when there is an extremely intense updraft that is rotating. A mesocyclone is a rotation of a large scale that is inside a thunderstorm. Tornadoes are formed from these mesocyclones.

According to www.media.graytvinc.com there are five common types of tornadoes.

There is what is called a "waterspout". This is when wind that is rotating develops from cumulus clouds and spirals downward to a body of water.

A "dust devil" is also a form of a tornado. These are simply swirls that rise upward but fizzle out in clean air.

"Gustnadoes" are not actually tornadoes. However, they can produce whirling dust clouds leading a person to believe that they are actually a tornado. Looking closely, though, a person will see that the "gustnado" is not even attached to any type of cloud.

Then we come to the most dangerous and destructive of tornadoes known as "supercell tornadoes". These tornadoes pack a punch with winds that can reach up to 300 miles per hour, be as wide as one mile, and last for hours and leave destruction over several miles.

Then there are what is called the "landspouts". These normally only last several minutes, but can still cause horror and devastation packing winds up to 140 miles per hour.

Tornadoes are rated in intensity by using what is known as the "fajita scale". This scale ranges are weak, strong, violent. F0 to F1 is weak; F2 to F3 is strong; F3 to F4 is violent.

Now if you are ever in the path of a tornado seek shelter immediately. Go to the lowest floor of your home, stay away from windows, and use pillows or other objects to cover yourself up. Make sure you go to an interior room where the walls are close together. These walls are usually stronger than outside walls. If you live in a mobile home, try to get out and go to a more secure establishment. If you area caught in a vehicle, get out of the vehicle and find the lowest lying ditch or area you can find. Lie down curled up as much as possible and put your hands over your head if you do not have something else to use. Make sure you are not under trees or power lines.

If you hear of a tornado warning in you area, that means a tornado has been spotted or is on the ground. Seek shelter immediately. If there is a tornado watch in your area, this means to stay tuned to your local television or radio station because conditions are favorable for a tornado to form.

I hope this helps you to understand tornadoes a little better. Stay safe as this is tornado season.

Source(s):

www.volunteertv.comwww.media.graytv.inc.comwww.tornadoporject.com