Tornado

Tornado Latest News

Recently, over 20 people have died in the southern United States due to severe storms and tornado outbreaks affecting Missouri and Kentucky.

What is a Tornado?

• A tornado is a vertical, land-based column of violently rotating air that forms from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground.
• It is characterised by a rapid cyclonic circulation and is often seen as a cloud-filled condensation funnel extending from the sky to the ground.
• In cases of low humidity, the tornado may not form a visible funnel and may appear only as a swirl of dust or debris near the ground.
• When such a rotating column of air forms over a water body, it is known as a waterspout.

Wind Speeds and Movement

• Tornadoes typically exhibit wind speeds ranging from 105 to 322 km/h, but some extreme events can exceed this range.
• They can be stationary or move at high speeds, often advancing at around 97 km/h across the landscape.
• The sheer speed and intensity of the winds make tornadoes one of the most destructive natural phenomena on land.

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Mechanism of Formation

• Tornado formation is closely linked to interactions between contrasting air masses.
• A collision of warm, moist air (usually from tropical regions) with cool, dry air (typically from polar or upper regions), especially in the presence of a low-pressure system or trough, leads to the formation of thunderstorms and may trigger tornadoes.
• Cyclonic circulations and atmospheric instability further contribute to the rotational dynamics needed for tornado development.
• Geographical distribution: Tornadoes occur most commonly in mid-latitude regions (between 20° and 60° latitude in both hemispheres) where cold polar air meets warm tropical air, producing frequent thunderstorm activity.
  • The United States experiences the highest frequency of tornadoes globally, particularly in the region known as “Tornado Alley”.
  • Other countries prone to tornado occurrences include Argentina and Bangladesh, which also lie in the tropical-midlatitude interaction zones.
• Measurement: The Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to classify the strength of tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and associated damage levels.
  • The scale ranges from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest), with EF5 tornadoes being catastrophically destructive, often flattening buildings and uprooting trees.

Tornado FAQs

Q1: What is a tornado?
Ans: A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, often forming a visible funnel-shaped cloud.

Q2: In which region are tornadoes most common?
Ans: Tornadoes are most frequent in the United States, especially in “Tornado Alley”, which includes states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

Q3: What scale is used to measure tornado intensity?
Ans: Tornadoes are classified using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which ranges from EF0 to EF5 based on wind speed and damage caused.

Source: DW