- A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
- Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms within the funnel.
- The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed is 30 mph but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph.
- The strongest tornadoes have rotating winds of more than 250 mph.
- Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
- Waterspouts are tornadoes which form over warm water. They can move onshore and cause damage to coastal areas.
- Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year.
- Tornadoes have occurred in every state, but they are most frequent east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer months.
- In the southern states, peak tornado occurrence is March through May, while peak months in the northern states are during the late spring and summer.
- Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 p.m. but can happen at any time.
- Rising air within the thunderstorm 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 tornadoes form within this area of strong rotation.
Weak tornadoes
- 88% of all tornadoes
- Less than 5% of tornado deaths
- Lifetime 1 to 10+ minutes
- Winds less than 110 m.p.h.
Strong tornadoes
- 11% of all tornadoes
- Nearly 30% of all tornado deaths
- May last 20 minutes or longer
- Winds 110-205 m.p.h.
Violent tornadoes
- Less than 1% of all tornadoes
- 70% of all tornado deaths
- Lifetime can exceed 1 hour
- Winds greater than 205 m.p.h.
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