Tornadoes: A Whirlwind Tour By: Mr. Donahue

Objectives To define what a tornado is To discuss various characteristics of a tornado To discuss where tornadoes can occur, including in Pennsylvania To discuss safety issues involving tornadoes

What is a Tornado? A violently rotating column of air, usually pendant to a cumulonimbus, with circulation reaching the ground. It nearly always starts as a funnel cloud and may be accompanied by a loud roaring noise. On a local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena.

How Do Tornadoes Form?

Most Tornadoes Form in Tornado Alley

Do We Have Tornadoes in Our Area?

Tornado Damage From an F3 in Wyoming County, PA

Across the State

How Fast Can Tornadoes Travel?

FUJITAFUJITA SCALESCALE

Tornado Watches and Warnings “A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, or that Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation which can spawn a tornado.” “A tornado watch defines an area shaped like a parallelogram, where tornadoes and other kinds of severe weather are possible in the next several hours.”

Summary of Tornado Safety Rules 1. Seek shelter under a sturdy table in the basement. 2. If no basement is available, go to a first floor, small interior room or a room on the opposite side from a tornado. Stay away from windows. 3. In schools, churches, and shopping centers, go to designated shelters away from outside walls, glass, and large rooms (malls, auditoriums). Get under a table or counter or in a restroom or small storeroom. DO NOT GO TO YOUR PARKED CAR * Source:

Summary of Tornado Safety Rules 4. In motels, lie down in the lowest-level interior hallway away from glass. Dive under a bed or pull a mattress on top of you as last resort. 5. In a vehicle, drive away at a right angle to the storm movement. DO NOT GET CAUGHT IN YOUR VEHICLE. Abandon your vehicle and lie in a ditch or culvert or under a low bridge. Overall: Underground and under a table are the watchwords. People who get under something usually survive. * Source:

Tornado Quiz 1. What is the best description of a tornado? a)A funnel cloudA funnel cloud b)A whirlwind startingA whirlwind starting from a stratus cloud c) A violently rotatingA violently rotating column of air, pendant to a cumulonimbus.

Tornado Quiz 2.Wind speed and direction change with altitude, causing a horizontal spin, then strong updrafts within a thunderstorm lift the air into a loop, which can intensify into a tornado? a) TrueTrue b) FalseFalse

Tornado Quiz 3.Where do most tornadoes form in the United States? a)The East CoastThe East Coast b)The West CoastThe West Coast c)The Central PartsThe Central Parts

Tornado Quiz 4)How many tornadoes have been reported in Carbon county since 1881? a)00 b)22 c)33

Tornado Quiz 5) Every county in Pennsylvania has reported at least one tornado since 1881? a)TrueTrue b)FalseFalse

Tornado Quiz 6) How fast can tornadoes travel? a)30 mph30 mph b)50 mph50 mph c)80 mph80 mph

Tornado Quiz 7) A tornado warning means: a)A tornado hasA tornado has been spotted b) Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation which can spawn a tornado.Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation which can spawn a tornado. c) Both a and bBoth a and b

Tornado Quiz 8)When a tornado watch has been issued for your location, you should be alert for the potential of a tornado and be prepared to take shelter, if necessary. a)TrueTrue b)FalseFalse

Tornado Quiz 9)If your house does not have a basement, where should go in the event of a tornado? a)By a windowBy a window b)In the AtticIn the Attic c) A first floor, smallA first floor, small interior room or a room on the opposite side from a tornado.

Tornado Quiz 10) Overall: Underground and under a table are the watchwords. People who get under something usually survive tornadoes. a)TrueTrue b)FalseFalse

CORRECT Recall the definition of a Tornado: A violently rotating column of air, usually pendant to a cumulonimbus, with circulation reaching the ground. It nearly always starts as a funnel cloud and may be accompanied by a loud roaring noise. On a local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena.

CORRECT This also means that a severe weather is in your area.

CORRECT Remember: Tornadoes can move as fast as cars.

Resources do_tornadoes_form.htmhttp://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01424/how_ do_tornadoes_form.htm eme/Tornado/PEMA_tornado.htmlhttp://pasc.met.psu.edu/PA_Climatologist/extr eme/Tornado/PEMA_tornado.html

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