What natural phenomena could completely destroy a home, but leave a box of Christmas ornaments, a case of eggs, and a mirror totally intact? According to author Tom Grazulis, “Few other phenomena can form so quickly, vanish so suddenly, leave behind such misery and yet still be seen as beautiful.” (Grazulis, Significant Tornadoes) Tornadoes, the randomly violent whirlwinds that are known for their destructive powers. Tornadoes do amazing damage every year across America, but never the less, many Americans remain mostly unaware of just how severe and deadly tornadoes actually are. Thus today I will be examining the field of tornadoes through four aspects—the birth of a tornado, tornado classification, tornado warning, and tornado safety. Hopefully, the information in this speech will lead you to better understand, and prepare for tornadoes. However before we delve into tornado birth, let’s look at where these monsters usually occur. As you can see on this map, there is a distinct area located across the plain states that sees the highest risk of tornadoes each year. This area is referred to as tornado alley. However, tornadoes can occur anywhere in the United States, and some Midwest and Gulf States that are not literally in Tornado Alley are still in high-risk areas for tornadoes. Now let’s move on to discussing the birth of a tornado.
Most tornadoes are born from a very intense and long-lasting, rotating thunderstorm called a supercell. A supercell is identified by its inflow of intense, rotating warm updrafts, and its outflow of cool downdrafts wrapping around each other and causing this rotation. Roughly 20% of supercells produce tornadoes. (Douglas, 58) The most intense center of rotation called the mesocyclone is located on the southwest side of the storm. As the time for the tornado’s birth nears, a rotating wall cloud usually lowers toward the ground out of the mesocyclone as you see on this diagram. A vertical column of rapidly rotating air begins to extend downward from the wall cloud. At this stage it is referred to as a funnel cloud. As it comes into contact with the ground it picks up dust and debris. And hence, a tornado is born. You can be sure that a tornado has touched down when a dust and/or debris cloud becomes visible even though the funnel may not appear to be in contact with the ground. Now that you understand the steps to forming a tornado, mainly a supercell, mesocyclone, wall cloud, and funnel cloud, lets look at how tornadoes are classified.
Though all tornadoes are different, they can be roughly classified by their size and appearance. An extremely large and wide tornado can lose its funnel-like appearance hence is called a wedge tornado. Weaker and smaller tornadoes, however, can have a rope-like appearance, and are hence referred to as rope tornadoes. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, but they don’t usually form from supercells and are generally weak. However, they have been known to pick up many birds, fish, and frogs, and deposit them on land! Watch out below! The average tornado will track on the ground for about 3/10 of a mile. (Douglas, 86) However, the most violent tornadoes can travel over 200 miles on the ground. Tornado wind speeds can range from about 65 mph to 300 mph! To forecast tornado monsters like that, we need a very advanced warning system, which brings me to my third point, tornado warning.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR HAMILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL INDIANA UNTIL 5:15 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME. A tornado warning calling everyone in the tornado’s path to take cover immediately—is serious business. But how do meteorologists know when and where to issue a tornado warning? First of all, they can use Doppler radar as a tornado tip off. This image shows what a supercell looks like on radar. Now, do you see that hook-like extension on the southwest side of the storm? This indicates an intense area of circulation or mesocyclone that is wrapping rain around into a hook formation. Thus, meteorologists know that a tornado may be about to form or have already formed in that area. Meteorologists also rely on volunteer trained storm spotters who relay information about where they do or do not see forming tornadoes. These are the two things that can prompt a tornado warning, Doppler radar, and a tornado sighting by a trained spotter. Although many warnings never result in a tornado, you should take any tornado warning very seriously and take cover immediately, which brings me to my final point, tornado safety.
There are three things that cannot be trusted to warn you of tornado: sound, sight, and sirens. Most of us have heard, or seen on TV excited tornado survivors talking about how the tornado sounded like “a hundred freight trains” However, tornadoes make a variety of noises or no noise at all, so don’t count on hearing the tornado before it hits. (Douglas, 90) Secondly, many tornadoes are not visible because they are obscured by rain or hail; so don’t count on seeing a funnel. Finally, don’t wait to take cover until sirens are heard. Many areas of the country do not posses audible sirens and sirens are not always effective. Whether or not you can hear the tornado, see it, or hear sirens blaring, seek proper shelter as soon as you detect any sign of rotation or other tornado tip-off. If you are at home, go to the lowest level of your house, go to a small, central room without windows and get under something sturdy, covering yourself with blankets or pillows to avoid injury from flying debris. If you are in a car, try to drive away from the tornado at a right angle, but if it is impossible to out-run the tornado, seek shelter in a nearby building. If neither of these options is possible, do not attempt to ride out a tornado in or under your vehicle. Abandon it and take shelter in a nearby ditch. In April of 1979, an extremely violent tornado that at times was a mile and a half wide, plowed through Wichita Falls, Texas. Citizens were warned about 35 minutes before the tornado hit, but never the less, thousands got into their cars and attempted to drive home before it hit. The tornado took 49 lives and injured 1700. Over half of the deaths that day were auto related, as many civilians were crushed in or under their vehicles as they were being blown around like toys. (Douglas, 93 and USA Today, April 9, 2004) Thus we see that hiding in or under your vehicle during a tornado is extremely dangerous and deadly course of action. In the same way, it is exceptionally dangerous to take refuge under an overpass or bridge because strong winds can cause a collapse or blow you away. And remember, whether you are at home, or in your vehicle that all tornadoes are dangerous so always ere on the safe side. Take this tame tornado for instance. Although it appears to be spinning harmlessly in its happy little home, when you drop it on your toe, it hurts!
Today, we have examined tornadoes, inside and out. I have explained tornadoes through four major aspects—the birth of a tornado, tornado classification, tornado warning, and tornado safety. I sincerely hope that this speech will help you better understand and prepare for the tornado. But remember our Lord and Creator ordained creation, and his hand controls every part of it—including tornadoes. The Bible tells us in Mark 4:41 (New International Version), “Even the wind and the waves obey him.” That’s remarkable. For nothing in all God’s creation can appear so beautifully, vanish so suddenly, and carve such a track of misery, as unexpectedly as the tornado.
Most tornadoes are born from a very intense and long-lasting, rotating thunderstorm called a supercell. A supercell is identified by its inflow of intense, rotating warm updrafts, and its outflow of cool downdrafts wrapping around each other and causing this rotation. Roughly 20% of supercells produce tornadoes. (Douglas, 58) The most intense center of rotation called the mesocyclone is located on the southwest side of the storm. As the time for the tornado’s birth nears, a rotating wall cloud usually lowers toward the ground out of the mesocyclone as you see on this diagram. A vertical column of rapidly rotating air begins to extend downward from the wall cloud. At this stage it is referred to as a funnel cloud. As it comes into contact with the ground it picks up dust and debris. And hence, a tornado is born. You can be sure that a tornado has touched down when a dust and/or debris cloud becomes visible even though the funnel may not appear to be in contact with the ground. Now that you understand the steps to forming a tornado, mainly a supercell, mesocyclone, wall cloud, and funnel cloud, lets look at how tornadoes are classified.
Though all tornadoes are different, they can be roughly classified by their size and appearance. An extremely large and wide tornado can lose its funnel-like appearance hence is called a wedge tornado. Weaker and smaller tornadoes, however, can have a rope-like appearance, and are hence referred to as rope tornadoes. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, but they don’t usually form from supercells and are generally weak. However, they have been known to pick up many birds, fish, and frogs, and deposit them on land! Watch out below! The average tornado will track on the ground for about 3/10 of a mile. (Douglas, 86) However, the most violent tornadoes can travel over 200 miles on the ground. Tornado wind speeds can range from about 65 mph to 300 mph! To forecast tornado monsters like that, we need a very advanced warning system, which brings me to my third point, tornado warning.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR HAMILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL INDIANA UNTIL 5:15 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME. A tornado warning calling everyone in the tornado’s path to take cover immediately—is serious business. But how do meteorologists know when and where to issue a tornado warning? First of all, they can use Doppler radar as a tornado tip off. This image shows what a supercell looks like on radar. Now, do you see that hook-like extension on the southwest side of the storm? This indicates an intense area of circulation or mesocyclone that is wrapping rain around into a hook formation. Thus, meteorologists know that a tornado may be about to form or have already formed in that area. Meteorologists also rely on volunteer trained storm spotters who relay information about where they do or do not see forming tornadoes. These are the two things that can prompt a tornado warning, Doppler radar, and a tornado sighting by a trained spotter. Although many warnings never result in a tornado, you should take any tornado warning very seriously and take cover immediately, which brings me to my final point, tornado safety.
There are three things that cannot be trusted to warn you of tornado: sound, sight, and sirens. Most of us have heard, or seen on TV excited tornado survivors talking about how the tornado sounded like “a hundred freight trains” However, tornadoes make a variety of noises or no noise at all, so don’t count on hearing the tornado before it hits. (Douglas, 90) Secondly, many tornadoes are not visible because they are obscured by rain or hail; so don’t count on seeing a funnel. Finally, don’t wait to take cover until sirens are heard. Many areas of the country do not posses audible sirens and sirens are not always effective. Whether or not you can hear the tornado, see it, or hear sirens blaring, seek proper shelter as soon as you detect any sign of rotation or other tornado tip-off. If you are at home, go to the lowest level of your house, go to a small, central room without windows and get under something sturdy, covering yourself with blankets or pillows to avoid injury from flying debris. If you are in a car, try to drive away from the tornado at a right angle, but if it is impossible to out-run the tornado, seek shelter in a nearby building. If neither of these options is possible, do not attempt to ride out a tornado in or under your vehicle. Abandon it and take shelter in a nearby ditch. In April of 1979, an extremely violent tornado that at times was a mile and a half wide, plowed through Wichita Falls, Texas. Citizens were warned about 35 minutes before the tornado hit, but never the less, thousands got into their cars and attempted to drive home before it hit. The tornado took 49 lives and injured 1700. Over half of the deaths that day were auto related, as many civilians were crushed in or under their vehicles as they were being blown around like toys. (Douglas, 93 and USA Today, April 9, 2004) Thus we see that hiding in or under your vehicle during a tornado is extremely dangerous and deadly course of action. In the same way, it is exceptionally dangerous to take refuge under an overpass or bridge because strong winds can cause a collapse or blow you away. And remember, whether you are at home, or in your vehicle that all tornadoes are dangerous so always ere on the safe side. Take this tame tornado for instance. Although it appears to be spinning harmlessly in its happy little home, when you drop it on your toe, it hurts!
Today, we have examined tornadoes, inside and out. I have explained tornadoes through four major aspects—the birth of a tornado, tornado classification, tornado warning, and tornado safety. I sincerely hope that this speech will help you better understand and prepare for the tornado. But remember our Lord and Creator ordained creation, and his hand controls every part of it—including tornadoes. The Bible tells us in Mark 4:41 (New International Version), “Even the wind and the waves obey him.” That’s remarkable. For nothing in all God’s creation can appear so beautifully, vanish so suddenly, and carve such a track of misery, as unexpectedly as the tornado.
