TORNADOS

Here is some of the basic information we need to know for the test:

Funnel cloud vs. Tornado: A funnel cloud is formed from water droplets and continues to grow and descends from the cloud. It becomes a tornado when it touches the ground. (a funnel cloud is a tornado before it touches the ground)

Tornado Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale is what tornados are based on. There are 6 "levels" that go from F0-F5 and are based on the amount of damage, ranging from broken branches to houses being ripped off the foundation.

Weather Systems: Tornados are produced by a storm system that is called a supercell

Weather Conditions: One air mass has to be cold and dry, while the second air mass has to be warm and moist (opposites). There has to be low pressure (L on a map is always bad) and the winds have to be variable (changing directions constantly).

Tornado Alley: An area of the US that stretches from Texas to Nebraska, and also includes Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas Missouri, and Arkansas.

Characteristics: Three things to precede or accompany a tornado are thunderstorms, high winds, and hail. An average tornado can be 30 MPH, but a massive tornado can be 300 MPH.

Waterspouts: Weak twisters that form over warm water. They can move inland which then forms tornados.

Watch vs. Warning: A tornado watch is when there are ideal conditions for a tornado to occur (thunderstorms, winds, colliding air, etc) but a tornado warning is when there has been a sighting on a radar, weather watch teams have spotted one, or someone has called in saying that they have seen one.

Hope this helps!!