Tornadoes

A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm.The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with winds of winds speeds up to 300 mph. They also destroy big building trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards. In an average year 1000 tornadoes are reported nationwide.

Most tornadoes form from thunderstorms. Also it can form when warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool dry air from Canada. When these two air masses meet, they create instability in the atmosphere. A change in wind direction and an increase in wind speed with increasing height creates an invisible horizontal spinning effect in the lower atmosphere.

Rising air within the updraft tilts the rotating air from horizontal to vertical. An area of rotation 2-6 miles wide, now extends through much of the storm. Most strong and violent tornadoes form within this area of strong rotation and becomes a tornado.

Tornadoes are dangerous but if your In a house with no basement like an apartment Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor small room under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Get as low as possible to the floor facing down and cover your head with your hands.