Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best
About

About Tornadoes

Here are some terms associated with tornadoes:

Twister - another term for a tornado.

Downdraft - a burst of air descending from the storm.  The downdraft is important in producing the tornado.

Waterspout - a tornado that forms over water.

Supercell thunderstorms - the rarest but most destructive of storms, the supercell is a thunderstorm with a deep rotating updraft.

Funnel Cloud - a thunderstorm cloud that has not touched the ground.

Tornado Watch - means a tornado is possible in your area. When a watch is issued, listen to local radio and TV for further updates. Listen for loud roaring sounds, similar to a freight train.

Tornado Warning - means a tornado has been sighted and may be headed for your area. Go to safety immediately. Hurry to the basement of a sturdy building or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area. Do not stay in a car or mobile home.  Unfortunately, official tornado warnings come too late or are false alarms. People don’t have a lot of time to prepare for a tornado (usually less than 15 minutes).

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale is a more precise classification of the intensity of tornadoes. The scale is used to rate the intensity of a tornado by examining the damage caused by the tornado after it has passed over a man-made structure. It is the official classification for tornadoes. The scale below is adapted from the Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service:

On average, there are 1,000 tornadoes per year.

  1.     More tornadoes hit Texas than any other state.
  2.     Tornado season- peak season is March to May, but can occur at any time.
  3.     Tornado Alley- an area covering the southern and central plains region from Texas to Nebraska- majority of tornado strikes occur here
  4.     Tornadoes can strike anywhere and at any time
          • The majority of tornadoes strike in the afternoon and evening hours more than at other times.
  5.     Experts say that tornadoes will get worst.

Good idea is to check on your state’s office of emergency management website and the National Weather Service’s website on a regular basis for updated information.