1. III. Tornadoes

2. A. Introduction 1. Tornado- A whirling funnel-shaped cloud that touches the ground 2. Water spout- a tornado that forms over a body of water 3. Time/Tornado Size a. They last about 15 minutes b. Only a few hundred meters across

3. B. How Tornadoes Form 1.Tornadoes form in low, heavy cumulonimbus clouds (the same clouds that form severe thunderstorms) 2.When severe cold fronts form a.Maritime tropical and continental polar air masses collide b.When these air masses collide the updrafts spiral past downdrafts

4. 3. Location a. More tornadoes in the United States than in any other country b. The Great Plains (between the Mississippi River & the Rocky Mountains) c. Tornado Alley- Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas & Nebraska 4. Time of Year- Tornadoes frequently occur in the spring and early summer, but can occur any time but can occur any time of year

5. C. Tornado Safety 1.Cause of the Damage a.Strong winds b.Flying debris 2.Watches and Warnings a.Watch- a tornado is possible b.Warning- a tornado has been spotted 3. Safest Place to be 3. Safest Place to be a. BEST- the basement of a well built building b. NEXT BEST- interior rooms away from windows

6. D. Additional Information 1.Vortex- a spiraling column of fluid around a central axis 2.Scale used to measure Tornadoes a.Fujita Scale or Enhanced Fujita Scale b.Based on damage and wind speed 3.Wind Speed- F1 minimum wind speed of 73 mph (EF0- 65mph) 4.Speed of Tornado- stationary to over 60 mph

7. Good tornadoes with debris clouds: http://www.youtube.com/user/NationalGeographic?feature=relchannel#p/search/0/4 3VoMesUd2Q http://www.youtube.com/user/NationalGeographic?feature=relchannel#p/search/0/4 3VoMesUd2Q Tornado Flips Cars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LugFE3oRaN0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LugFE3oRaN0 Storm Chasers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_MuaWDg5Z0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_MuaWDg5Z0 Waterspout Forming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpCPH---ib4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpCPH---ib4