Tornado Essay

Tornadoes

Tornadoes are one of Mother Nature’s most violent storms. They have caused many fatalities and have destroyed neighborhoods in seconds. It is important to be as knowledgeable as possible when it comes to tornadoes, especially if you live where tornadoes often hit. Tornadoes are narrow, violently rotating columns of air that extend from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. They can also be referred to as cyclones or twisters. (NSSL Tornado Basics). Tornados can occur in many parts of the world: all a tornado needs to form is a thunderstorm. The United States has about 1,200 tornadoes each year (NSSL Tornado Basics) with most of those hitting

Certain key components are needed such as surface humidity, air instability, and wind shear. When a warm humid air front collides with a cool dry air front they produce a supercell. A supercell is a massive thunderstorm which has a strong rotating updraft of air producing a tornado due to the reaction of the two different air systems meeting. The cold air drops as the warm air rises. This causes the warm air to start twisting into a spiral which then forms a funnel cloud. Once the funnel cloud touches the ground it is called a tornado. A tornado can form at any time of year, but the peak season is March through June. This is when weather systems are just right for the development of severe thunderstorms that have the characteristics a tornado needs to

The most important ways to be prepared is knowing what a tornado is, what damage it could cause, the warning signs of an approaching funnel cloud, and how to protect yourself if it hits. The first step is to have a tornado safety plan. When making this plan you should know your tornado risks and how you will receive warnings regarding tornadoes in your area. Next, you need to know how to choose a safe place in your house. The safest place to be in a tornado is underground, or as low to the ground as possible. Stay away from windows and outside walls. The best option would be a basement or a small closet in the middle of a house. You might also want to have a safety supply kit that stays in your safe place at all times. In this kit you would need water, canned foods, a flashlight, copies of important documents, cash, a first aid kit, a battery powered radio, and extra batteries. This kit could save you and your family’s lives after surviving a tornadoes wrath. The last step in to practice this plan over and over so you and your family are prepared for a tornado at any time. Being prepared is very important and could save your life. Don’t be caught off guard-have a safety