Facts About TORNADOES

David Sibley

Tornado! People hear those words and think of a killing machine, something that will rip your house and everything around it apart. And that is right, they will. Tornadoes do happen all around the world but in most cases they happen in the United States of America. Places that get the worst are East of the Rocky Mountains. In a average year there can be more than 800 tornadoes throughout the United States. These result in more than 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries. People define tornadoes as a violently rotating column of air. Tornadoes can reach speeds higher than 250 miles per hour. The path of destruction that they can make can be 1 mile wide and 50 miles long.

What causes tornadoes?

When thunder storms develop in warm moist air with cold fronts hitting it at the smae time. With these three things mixing at one time can produse hail, strong winds and tornadoes. Tornadoes are most common in central states and move towards the east. These states in which people call tornado valley.

Sizes Of Tornaodes

Small Tornadoes

69% of tornadoes

Less than 5% of deaths

Lifetime 1-10 or more minutes

Winds no greater than 110 mph

Medium Tornadoes

29% of tornadoes

Almost 30% of tornado deaths

most likely will only last 20 minutes

Winds 110-205 mph

Death Traps

2% of all tornadoes

70% of deaths

can go for as long as 1 hour

winds more than 205 mph

Boothbay Region High School Information Retrievers

USA TODAY

Fotos of Tornadoes

Good for pictures and movies!

Australian Weather on tornadoes

Explore tornadoes

Facts on Tornadoes

Great facts on tornadoes!

CBC News in canada tornado terror!

Up to date news on tornadoes!

Pictures!

Pictures of a tornado that hit Alabama

Tons of pictures!

Site for excellent pics!

Great facts on tornadoes!

Frances D. Aley, LMS
Boothbay Region High School Library
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
[email protected]

LAST revised 5/3/01
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