FACTS ABOUT TORNADOES!

Tornadoes are vetical funnels of rapidly spinning air. Their winds may top 250 miles an hour and can slear cut a pathway a mile wide and 50 long. Twisters are born by thunderstorms and are often accompanied by hail. These vilent storms occur around the world but mostly occur in the United States with thousands of tornadoes every year. A tornado forms when changes in wind speed and direction create a horizontal spinning effect within a storm cell. This affect is then tipped vertical by rising air moving up through the thunderclouds. Tornadoes are classified as weak, strong, or violent storms. Violent tornadoes comprise only about 2% of all tornadoes, but they cause about 70% of al tornado deaths and can last an hour or more. People,cars, and evben buildings can be lifted off the ground by the tornado force winds or simply blown away. Most injuries and deaths occur by flying debris. Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris is picked up. Occasionally there might be one or more tornadoes at the same time.

This is a waterspout tornado. Waterspout tornadoes are weak tornados and form over warm water. They are most common along the Gulf Coast and southeatern states. In the United States, they occur in cold late fall or late winter storms, during a time you most likely dont expect it. They occasionally move toward the inlands becoming tornadoes and causing damage and injuries. To learn more about Waterspout tornadoes click here.