Tornado: What is it, how it is formed, types and consequences

A tornado is a meteorological phenomenon characterized by a air column in rotation that extends from a storm cloud to the earth’s surface. This phenomenon is part of severe storms and can have devastating effects on the areas where it passes.

Tornados can Vary in size, duration and intensity. Some are small and short, while others can be large and remain on the ground for hours, causing great destruction on their way.

Meteorologists use various methods to detect and track tornadoes, including weather radars and early alert systems. These systems allow you to issue warnings to the affected communities, thus providing the opportunity to take precautionary measures and seek refuge before the tornado arrives.

Tornados are formed in the context of specific atmospheric conditions that favor the creation of severe storms. These conditions usually occur in regions where air masses converge with different characteristics, such as transition zones between cold and warm fronts.

1. The process of forming a tornado begins with the presence of a thunderstormwhich is essential to generate the necessary energy. Within the storm, the interaction between ascending and descending currents of air creates a horizontal rotation in the atmosphere.
2. If certain conditions are favorable, this horizontal rotation can be inclined towards the vertical by the influence of stronger ascending currents. This process is known as “Vortex vertical inclination” And it is essential for the formation of the characteristic funnel of a tornado.
3. As the rotation intensifies, A funnel is formed at the base of the storm cloud. This funnel consists of an air column in rotation that descends to the earth’s surface. As the funnel approaches the ground, it can collect dust and rubble, which gives it a dark and threatening appearance.
4. Once The funnel touches earthit is considered that a tornado has formed. The intensity and duration of the tornado can vary according to a series of factors, including the amount of energy available, atmospheric stability and local topography.

We recommend you read this article about thunderstorms: what are, how types and consequences are formed.

There are several types of tornadoes, which can be classified according to their shape, size, intensity and the environment in which they are formed. Some of the most common types of tornadoes include:

• Supercell tornadoes: These are the largest and most destructive tornadoes. They are formed from supercells, which are large -scale storms with persistent and organized rotation. Supercell tornadoes can have a very wide fun and remain on the ground for hours, traveling large distances and causing devastating damage.
• Wedge tornadoes: These tornadoes have a distinctive appearance in the form of wedge, with a wide funnel in the base that narrows towards the upper part.
• Multiple and series tornadoes: Sometimes, several tornadoes are formed within the same storm or throughout the same storm system.
• Multiple funnel turns: They are tornadoes that consist of multiple air springs in rotation that revolve around a central point.
• Needle tornadoes or marine thrombus: These tornadoes are smaller and less common. Here you will find more information about the marine thrombus: what it is, why and how it occurs.
• Earth or dust tornadoes: They are tornadoes that are formed from the rotation of dust or rubble on the earth’s surface, instead of a storm cloud.

The intensity of tornadoes is mainly measured using the Improved Fujita Scale (EF-Scale), which was developed by Dr. Ted Fujita in the 1970s and has been updated since then to reflect the advances in the understanding of tornadoes and technology available for study.

The Improved Fujita scale classifies tornadoes depending on the damages caused in structures and vegetationwhich provides an indirect estimate of wind speed associated with the tornado. The scale consists of six categories, ranging from EF0 (weaker) to EF5 (stronger), each of which is associated with an estimated wind rank of wind:

• EF0: winds from 65 to 85 mph (105 to 137 km/h).
• EF1: winds from 86 to 110 mph (138 to 177 km/h).
• EF2: winds from 111 to 135 mph (178 to 217 km/h).
• EF3: winds from 136 to 165 mph (218 to 266 km/h).
• EF4: winds from 166 to 200 mph (267 to 322 km/h).
• EF5: winds above 200 mph (more than 322 km/h).

You may also be interested to know when strong wind is considered.

The consequences of a tornado can be devastating and cover a wide range of impacts in the affected areas. Some of the main consequences include:

• Damage to property: Tornados can seriously destroy or damage homes, commercial buildings, infrastructure and vehicles. The structures can be torn from their foundations and thrown at a great distance, leaving debris scattered throughout the affected area.
• Injuries and losses of human lives: Tornados cause serious injuries and even death to people who are on their way. Flying debris, the objects thrown by the wind and the collapses of structures are mortal hazards for those who are exposed to the tornado.
• Socio -economic impacts: In the long term they affect the economy and society of the affected areas.
• Infrastructure impacts: Tornados can cause damage to critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, electric lines and water supply systems.

In case of Tornado, it is crucial to follow the security recommendations to protect your life and that of your loved ones. This are some tips of what you can do:

• Look for sure refuge: The main priority is to look for a safe place to protect you from the tornado. Ideally, look for a shelter in a basement or at the lowest level of a building, far from windows, exterior doors and walls that can collapse.
• Avoid open spaces: If you are outdoors and you cannot reach a safe shelter, look for refuge in a resistant building or a deep ditch.
• Stay informed: Pay attention to the alerts and warnings of tornadoes issued by local authorities and weather services.
• Remains in the shelter until the danger passes: Once you are in a safe place, stay there until the danger passes. Do not go outside or try to return to your home or vehicle until the authorities indicate that it is safe to do it.

The worst tornadoes of history have left an indelible brand in collective memory due to their devastation and the large number of lost lives. Some of the most lethal and destructive tornadoes registered include:

• TRI-STATE TORNADO: This tornado, which affected areas of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in the United States on March 18, 1925, is considered one of the most mortal tornadoes in the history of the United States. With a width of up to one mile and a trajectory of more than 200 miles, the tornado caused the death of at least 695 people and left thousands of injured, in addition to causing catastrophic damage in numerous communities.
• Natchez Tornado: May 6, 1840, along the Mississippi River in Louisiana, killing 317 people and hurting another 109. The official number of dead does not include slaves, according to the Federal Agency for Emergency Management.
• St. Louis Tornado: occurred on May 27, 1896, ended the life of 225 people and wounded 1,000 in Missouri and Illinois. The wind speed was 330 to 415 kilometers per hour.
• TUPO DE TUPELO: On April 5, 1936, a tornado in the city of Tupelo, in the Northeast of Mississippi, killed 216 people and wounded another 700.
• Gainesville Tornado: Two storms that converged in the city of Northern Georgia on April 6, 1936, killing 203 people and wounding more than 1,600. The tornado destroyed four neighborhoods and 750 homes.

Now that you know what a tornado is and how it is formed, do not miss this post about hurricanes: what they are, how they are formed and categories.

If you want to read more articles similar to Tornado: What is it, how it is formed, types and consequenceswe recommend that you enter our category of meteorological phenomena.