Tornado Basics, Severe Weather Preparation, & The Enhanced Fujita scale

Earth’s weather can produce various kinds of windstorms which include waterspouts, dust devils and tornadoes. Although they have the common features of a column of rotating air, they are actually formed through different processes. Dust devils and small whirlwinds are caused by severe local heating of the earth’s surface that makes the air rise rapidly. The interaction of air current high up, produce tornadoes and they are always accompanied by intense thunderstorms.

Though the US records the highest number of tornadoes although it is the Netherlands which is most prone to tornadoes. Early spring is the prime season in the US for the tornadoes. It is a time when there is instable climate in the country.

Tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, including Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Outside of the United States Argentina and Bangladesh have the highest number of tornadoes.

The birth of tornadoes takes place within thunderstorms. Most of them are produced in supercell thunderstorms but hurricanes and squall lines can also cause tornadoes.

Within a thunderstorm, the cold and warm air currents counteract and form an air column that spins, the mesocyclone; this at times may result in a wall cloud that is a sure sign of an upcoming tornado.

This mesocyclone spins down the updraft of the cloud thus turning it into a funnel cloud. At the time it touches the ground, it turns into a tornado. It takes up the color of whatever debris it is sucking in. Depending on the landform on which it is moving tornadoes can be either invisible or partly visible.

The tornadoes move along with the source thunderstorm. The course of destruction rages from 30 feet to over half a mile. The tornadoes can travel anywhere from several yards to hundreds of miles Speeding at a rate as high as 300 miles an hour, with the updraft speed moving up to even a 180 miles an hour. Sometimes tornadoes last for a few seconds and sometimes for more than an hour; but in an average tornadoes last for about 15 minutes.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale, which became operational on February 1, 2007, is used to assign a tornado a ‘rating’ based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. When tornado-related damage is surveyed, it is compared to a list of Damage Indicators (DIs) and Degrees of Damage (DoD) which help estimate better the range of wind speeds the tornado likely produced. From that, a rating (from EF0 to EF5) is assigned.

The EF Scale was revised from the original Fujita Scale to reflect better examinations of tornado damage surveys so as to align wind speeds more closely with associated storm damage. The new scale has to do with how most structures are designed.

What To Do When Severe Weather Strikes

Does the weather concern you? If you live in an area that is known for hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, or snowstorms, the weather may be a great concern of yours. As for that concern, many are concerned with severe weather.

When it comes to severe weather, you may be wondering what you should do. What actions should you take during severe weather? If this is a question that you have asked yourself before, you will want to continue reading on. A few helpful tips and suggestions are outlined below and these helpful pointers may be able to help get you through your next bout of bad, severe weather.

As previously stated, severe weather encompasses a number of different events, such as thunderstorms, floods, hurricanes, snow storms, and tornadoes. The weather event or events that you are faced with should have a significant impact on your actions. After all, the above mentioned weather situations are ones that all need to be handled differently.

As we have seen in the past, hurricanes can be horrific and deadly. If you are faced with a hurricane, the good news is that you should have some warning. Many meteorologists are able to predict hurricanes and their intended routes at least two or three days in advance. This is nice, as many other weather events, especially tornadoes, many not give any warning at all.

If you ever find yourself in the path of a hurricane, it is important that you take action right away, even if you have a few days before landfall. Waiting until the last minute to evacuate may result in a gas shortage, as well traffic backups. Although you may only have a small or weak hurricane approaching your home, it may still be a good idea to evacuate. This is particular important if your home is located in an area that is prone to flooding or if you live along the coast.

In addition to hurricanes, another severe weather event that you may be concerned with is that of tornadoes. As previously stated, tornados can be dangerous and deadly weather events, as you often receive little or no warning at all. Although you may not know when a tornado is approaching, many meteorologists are able to predict where conditions are favorable for tornadoes. If you ever find yourself in a tornado watch or warning, you will want to take action right away.

As previously stated, you may not have much warning, if any at all, when a tornado is ready to strike. This means that you will want to prepare for a tornado as much as possible ahead of time, especially if you live in areas that are prone to them. One of the best ways to preplan for a tornado involves having a plan. This plan should include an area that you and your family can meet in the event of a tornado. This area should be a room that is enclosed, in the interior of your home, as well as one that is window free. It may also have a good idea have padding on hand, such as sofa cushions or extra blankets, to protect you from falling debris.

Another one of the many weather events that you will want to prepare for is that of flooding. What is frustrating about flooding is that it can happen in just about every area. Although specific areas are prone to flooding, you will find that others are prone to flash floods. Whether you find yourself in a slow rising flood or a flash flood, it is important that you take action right away. This action involves safely getting out of your home and to higher ground. If you suspect that your property may flood, you may want to raise your belongings or remove your valuables from your home, but don’t put yourself in danger just to so.

The above mentioned actions are just a few of the many ways that you can handle, as well as prepare for severe weather that you find yourself in the middle of. As a reminder, meteorologists are often able to predict many weather events, so listen and take into consideration any watches or warning that you may hear on the radio, read online, or see on television.