A tornado is a whirlwind caused by low pressure during a severe thunderstorm, appearing as a funnel-shaped column of rotating winds that touch the ground. It’s one of the most destructive forces of nature, measured by the Fujita Scale. Tornado Alley in the US sees the most tornadoes, with the UK and Canada also experiencing them.
The word tornado comes from the Spanish language and means to twist or turn. A tornado is a whirlwind produced by atmospheric conditions, mainly extremely low pressure, during a severe thunderstorm. Tornadoes usually spin counterclockwise. They appear as funnel-shaped columns of violently rotating winds that descend from a storm and touch the ground. While a tornado is not always visible to the eye, the condition of the tornado can still be detected by radar, or the tornado can become visible once debris and dirt is drawn into it.
A tornado can also be referred to as a funnel cloud, but that’s technically not a correct term. Although the two words are sometimes used interchangeably, a funnel cloud is different, not in its composition, but in the fact that it doesn’t touch the ground. Another name often used to describe a tornado is twister, due to its violent twisting motion.
Tornado is one of the most unpredictable and destructive forces of nature, often destroying everything in its path. A tornado is usually preceded by severe storms, which can include lightning, high winds, and often hail. It can change course without warning, and is usually accompanied by a rumble, or as some describe it, the sound of the freight train.
The Fujita Scale measures the strength or intensity of tornadoes and uses five categories to determine how damaging each storm is. An F-1 is considered moderate, F-2 significant, F-3 severe, F-4 devastating, and F-5 incredible. There’s a designation for the F-6 but it’s considered inconceivable, with winds reaching over 319 miles per hour (or about 510 kilometers per hour).
While tornadoes can occur anywhere in the world, there are more tornadoes in the United States each year than in any other country. There’s also a section of the United States called Tornado Alley, which stretches from the Midwest to the South. The UK also seems to experience quite a few tornadoes, and Canada sees its share, although most Canadian tornadoes are classified in the F-1 category.
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