Definitions
tornado n. a localized, violently destructive windstorm occurring over land, esp. in the Midwestern U.S., and characterized by a long, funnel-shaped cloud ¹ extending toward the ground and made visible by condensation and debris.
-Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, 1994
tornado a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA
funnel cloud a rotating column of air produced by a thunderstorm whose circulation has not yet reached the ground. It is usually filled with cloud droplets and is cone shaped.
-American Meteorological Society & World Meteorological Organization
¹ Beware! Very frequently, especially in our area of the country, there is not a long, funnel cloud which extends all the way to the ground when there is a tornado present. In these cases you may see a debris cloud on the ground but not a fully developed funnel cloud.
Introduction
Although tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, these destructive forces of nature are found most frequently in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer months. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide, resulting in 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Once a tornado in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, carried a motel sign 30 miles and dropped it in Arkansas!
Definitions and Introduction | What Causes Tornadoes? | How Do Tornadoes Form? | Characteristics of Tornadoes | Tornado Myths
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