Tornadoes
By: Kayla Janke
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Introduction
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What is a Tornado?
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How do Tornadoes Form?
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Measuring Tornadoes
7 -
Where Tornadoes Form
8 -
Tornado Safety
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Conclusion
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Introduction
Tornadoes are incredibly strong storms. They can lift roofs off of houses and fly cars through the air. Tornadoes can come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are small dust tornadoes and others can be miles wide. They are one of nature's most powerful forces!
What is a Tornado?
A tornado is a rotating column of air that starts in a storm cloud. It then touches down to reach the ground. The wind is usually very strong during a tornado and can reach speeds of 300 miles per hour!
How do Tornadoes Form?
Scientists do not even know everything about tornadoes, but we do know some facts. Tornadoes come from big thunderstorms called supercells.
These supercells are made when cold air mixes with wet, warm air. All of this fast-moving air makes a spinning thunderstorm, which then turns into a funnel cloud. Click here to watch a video.
Measuring Tornadoes
Tornadoes are measured in a special way. They are measured on a scale called the EF Scale.
Scientists look at what the tornado hurt and how fast the winds were. They will then give a tornado a rating of EF-0 or more.
Where Tornadoes Form
Tornadoes happen mostly in the United States from late spring through summer. Here there is an area called “Tornado Alley” that goes from Texas up to Minnesota.
The people that work at the National Weather Service keep other people safe by putting out tornado watches and warnings.
Tornado watch: a tornado might happen
Tornado warning: a tornado has been seen somewhere and you should take shelter.
What should you do if there’s a tornado warning or you hear tornado sirens? You should take shelter somewhere safe. The safest place is down in a basement. If you don’t have a basement go to a bathroom or closet.
Conclusion
Tornadoes are an amazing, but yet a scary thing of nature. Many people still have questions about tornadoes. What causes a tornado? What does it look like on the inside? Maybe one day we will find the answers.