Tornado Formation and Characteristics

Tornadoes are powerful weather phenomena capable of causing massive destruction, such as flattening homes and tossing vehicles. The US experiences about a thousand tornadoes annually, more than any other country. Tornadoes can have winds exceeding 300 mph and vary in size and path length. They form when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler air from the north, creating a spinning column of air that is pulled to the ground by a downdraft from a thunderstorm.

What are some of the destructive capabilities of tornadoes?

• They can create tsunamis.

• They can stop hurricanes.

• They can flatten homes and toss vehicles.

• They can cause earthquakes.

How many tornadoes occur annually in the US?

• About 500

• About 1000

• About 1500

• About 2000

What is the maximum wind speed that the strongest tornadoes can reach?

• 400 miles per hour

• 200 miles per hour

• 150 miles per hour

• 300 miles per hour

What is the range of widths that tornadoes can have?

• A few feet to a mile

• A few meters to three miles

• A few yards to two and a half miles

• A few inches to a mile

What atmospheric conditions contribute to the formation of tornadoes?

• Warm air from the ocean meeting cold air from the mountains

• Dry air from the east meeting moist air from the west

• Warm moist air from the Gulf meeting dry cool air from the north

• Cold air from the south meeting warm air from the north

What role does a downdraft from a thunderstorm play in tornado formation?

• It disperses the tornado.

• It increases the tornado's speed.

• It pulls the spinning column of air to the ground.

• It stops the tornado from forming.