TORNADOES

For some people, a tornado is something to be dealt with on a regular basis. They cannot be
predicted as they only develop under specific circumstances. They move quickly and the
moment they touch the ground, they cause mass destruction and possibly death. These storms
are difficult to determine whether or not a tornado will form as sometimes you can have a
thunderstorm but no supercell forms. This paper will discuss why tornadoes are one of the most
frustrating and most devastating storms.
Tornadoes are formed when the surface is warm but a cold front has moved in. With these two
temperature differences colliding a thunderstorm will develop. Thunderstorms do not always
result in tornado formations though. For a tornado to start rolling, there needs to be strong
winds, warm and cold, to move toward each other. Those winds need to change direction and go
up and down in the atmosphere. When strong winds collide and begin rotating in the same
direction, speed is built up. The warm air at the surface floats to the top with pushes the rolling
cold and warm winds to curve upward. It is these conditions that cause a supercell to form.
Once it hits the surface of the earth, you have a tornado. Called Tornado Alley, mid United
States tends to get the majority of tornado landings as that is where the cold and warm air masses
meet together.
So is a whirling gust of wind really something to take seriously? Could it really level homes and
pick up vehicles? The answer is yes. Tornadoes can have winds up to 300 mph. While they
may sound like simple wind storms, they are actually quite destructive. They can happen at any
moment and they are not predictable. While there are tornado warnings to possibly affected
areas, they are only able to sound the alert soon before it actually hits ground. Tornadoes
typically dont last more than 30 minutes (which is actually a long life for a tornado) yet they can
kill hundreds and do millions of dollars of damage in that short amount of time. Imagine if a
tornado could last an entire day like a hurricane or tsunami.
The Fujita scale was what was once used to measure tornadoes. Now, tornadoes are measured
on the EF (Enhanced Fujita) scale. This scale has 6 different levels which measures a tornado by
the damage it causes. Level 0 is simply strong winds that may damage crops at up to 85 mph
winds. But a level 5 tornado, the highest ranking, can exceed winds of 200 mph and will easily
level homes. Unfortunately, tornadoes are not able to be measured until they have already
destroyed homes, property or have taken lives. Even an F0 tornado has winds strong enough to
destroy weather equipment.
Thankfully in Utah, tornadoes are uncommon or minor. With mountainous terrain throughout
the state tornadoes have a difficult time forming and staying alive. Tornadoes thrive on the
warmth of the ground to grow stronger. With uneven ground there is unstable temperature.
Mountains also interrupt the rhythm the tornado has that keeps its circular motion. All of this
combined helps prohibit the supercells from growing strong or even at all. At the same time,
Utah is no stranger to tornadoes. Utah has an average of 4 tornadoes a year although most of
them would be considered water spouts over the Great Salt Lake. It is always wise to have a
plan of what to do when a tornado strikes because they could still happen.
When a tornado strikes the key is to be as low to the ground as possible as well as to be covered.
Many of the deaths caused by tornadoes are from the debris flying around in the winds. Never
go outdoors and try to find a safe place to go to. Many homes in Tornado Alley have shelters
underground to hide in. While tornadoes have winds that can pick nearly anything up, they will
never be able to reach places below the surface. Go to the basement, crawl space or shelter.
Stay away from all windows. To stay safe in a tornado only takes a couple of minutes. It is best
to lose possessions rather than life.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Howard, B. C. (2016, August 02). How Tornadoes Form and Why They're so Unpredictable.
Retrieved August 02, 2017, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/150511-tornadoes-
storms-midwest-weather-science/

The Enhanced Fujita Scale: How Tornadoes are Rated. (2016, January 04). Retrieved August 02,
2017, from https://weather.com/storms/tornado/news/enhanced-fujita-scale-20130206

Tornadoes: A threat to take seriously. (n.d.). Retrieved August 02, 2017, from
http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/15813-tornadoes-a-threat-to-take-seriously

Tullis, B. (n.d.). 15 facts about tornadoes in Utah | Deseret News. Retrieved August 02, 2017, from
http://www.deseretnews.com/top/2656/0/15-facts-about-tornadoes-in-Utah.html