Although tornadoes appear to drop down from the parent cloud, tornadoes may actually form at the ground level when small spinning tubes of air beneath the storm are lifted up into it by the warm updraft. If the conditions are right, this spinning thunderstorm can produce a tornado, although it is still not fully understood exactly how this happens. While supercell thunderstorms are responsible for the most powerful tornadoes, only around 20% of supercell thunderstorms produce tornadoes, and experts are still not entirely sure why that is the case. These mesocyclones feed on the potential energy available in the atmosphere - energy that can contribute to a powerful tornado. A mesocyclone is essentially a vertical rotating column of air within a thunderstorm that is formed by a combination of wind shear (wind moving in opposite directions) and an updraft (rapidly rising column of air), and in some cases, a rotating updraft. Supercell tornadoes. A supercell is a type of intense thunderstorm with a rotating section called a mesocyclone. Similarly, waterspouts and landspouts appear very much like a tornado, but do not have the same intensity because the parent cloud above is not a supercell with a mesocyclone. There are many types of these weather phenomenon that may look similar, but behave differently and have different causes, or are caused by different environmental conditions.įor example, dust devils look like a very small, weak tornado, but are caused by entirely different factors. Tornadoes are a common occurrence in many areas of the United States, but some states are more directly affected by them on a regular basis.Ī tornado is a type of whirlwind or vortex - a vertical spinning column of air. They vary in shapes and sizes, with most being around 250 feet across and traveling a few miles before they dissipate.
Tornadoes occur when a rotating column of air extends from the base of a thunderstorm and comes in contact with the earth. Here are a few other tornado facts you should know: The more you know about tornados and the more you prepare your family and your home for a severe weather strike, the more peace of mind you'll have during tornado season. Tornadoes can happen almost anywhere, but are a fairly common occurrence in Texas! The key to staying safe and minimizing damage in the event of a tornado is having a tornado preparedness plan. Learn about Texas tornado season, Tornado Alley, and other tornado facts you need to create a tornado preparedness plan!
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