What Is a Tornado?
A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
Explore tornadoes at these two web pages. Click here for tornado facts. Learn even more tornado facts by clicking here . |
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The main types of tornadoes. |
Where tornadoes happen?Click here to find out this information.
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Tornado flattens suburb outside Oklahoma City, kills dozens May 20, 2013
Tornado safety |
A huge tornado with 200-m.p.h. (322 km/h) winds devastated the town of Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City, on Monday afternoon. At least 24 people — including children — died in the disaster, according to the state medical examiner’s office. That number is expected to rise. Officials said search-and-rescue efforts would continue throughout the night.
Read more here. |
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Before, during and after a Tornado?
Before a tornado:
Sometimes tornadoes do not give weather readers much time to get people prepared to take cover. Here are a few things to do in preparation, especially if you live in a tornado prone area:
Always be aware of the safer places (Refuge areas) you can go to in your home before a tornado visits. If there is no basement in your home, consider finding a safe place close enough to your home where you can quickly take shelter. Make sure there are signs on the walls showing where the closest safe area is.
If there is enough time, grab a few first aid items and stock up on water and some emergency supplies, that can take you a few days if things get very bad.
Try to keep in touch with your local weather station, and look out for dark clouds and thunderstorms.
Be aware of the weather in your town and the suggested actions you can do to keep safe.
During a tornado:
During an approaching tornado, quickly move to your basement or designated area if you are in a public place. These days, schools, hospitals and many business building have safer places where people can take shelter.
If you are driving, or in a vehicle, make your way to the closest sturdy building and take cover. If there is none around, stay in your car, wear your seat belt and cover your head with your arms or a pillow if there is one. Never try to look into the window, or get out, as there may be flying debris that can smash your windows. Flying objects cause most of the injuries and deaths during tornadoes.
After a tornado:
Lots of injuries occur after tornadoes too. Be careful when getting out of your shelter as damaged objects and structures may fall.
Wear safety garments when walking and working through debris, as there could be broken glasses, exposed nails and other dangerous chemicals.
Do not touch power lines and objects in water puddles as there may be live electrical wires around.
If you have to clean up your home, make sure that you are wearing safety gear and are well aware of the dangers.
Keep records, notes, photos of broken items, in case your insurance company needs them.
Sometimes tornadoes do not give weather readers much time to get people prepared to take cover. Here are a few things to do in preparation, especially if you live in a tornado prone area:
Always be aware of the safer places (Refuge areas) you can go to in your home before a tornado visits. If there is no basement in your home, consider finding a safe place close enough to your home where you can quickly take shelter. Make sure there are signs on the walls showing where the closest safe area is.
If there is enough time, grab a few first aid items and stock up on water and some emergency supplies, that can take you a few days if things get very bad.
Try to keep in touch with your local weather station, and look out for dark clouds and thunderstorms.
Be aware of the weather in your town and the suggested actions you can do to keep safe.
During a tornado:
During an approaching tornado, quickly move to your basement or designated area if you are in a public place. These days, schools, hospitals and many business building have safer places where people can take shelter.
If you are driving, or in a vehicle, make your way to the closest sturdy building and take cover. If there is none around, stay in your car, wear your seat belt and cover your head with your arms or a pillow if there is one. Never try to look into the window, or get out, as there may be flying debris that can smash your windows. Flying objects cause most of the injuries and deaths during tornadoes.
After a tornado:
Lots of injuries occur after tornadoes too. Be careful when getting out of your shelter as damaged objects and structures may fall.
Wear safety garments when walking and working through debris, as there could be broken glasses, exposed nails and other dangerous chemicals.
Do not touch power lines and objects in water puddles as there may be live electrical wires around.
If you have to clean up your home, make sure that you are wearing safety gear and are well aware of the dangers.
Keep records, notes, photos of broken items, in case your insurance company needs them.
Experiment: Tornado in a bottle.
MATERIALS:
Fill one of the bottles two-thirds full of water.
Take the Tornado Tube and twist it on the first bottle. Then, grab the second bottle and attach it to the Tornado Tube.
Or use duct tape to fasten the two containers. Make sure to tape tightly to make sure that no water will leak out when you turn the bottle over.
Turn the tornado maker, so that the bottle with the water is on top. Swirl the bottle in a circular motion. Most tornadoes form counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. A tornado will form in the top bottle as the water rushes into the bottom bottle.
*If you want to get creative, you can also use food coloring to make the tornado have a color and glitter to represent debris.
EXPLANATION:
The swirling motion you give the bottle forms a vortex and is a easy way to create your own tornado.
- 2 2-liter clear plastic pop bottles (empty and clean)
- water
- duct tape or you can purchase a Tornado Tube at the Weather Wiz Kids® Store that will connect the 2 2-liter bottles together
Fill one of the bottles two-thirds full of water.
Take the Tornado Tube and twist it on the first bottle. Then, grab the second bottle and attach it to the Tornado Tube.
Or use duct tape to fasten the two containers. Make sure to tape tightly to make sure that no water will leak out when you turn the bottle over.
Turn the tornado maker, so that the bottle with the water is on top. Swirl the bottle in a circular motion. Most tornadoes form counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. A tornado will form in the top bottle as the water rushes into the bottom bottle.
*If you want to get creative, you can also use food coloring to make the tornado have a color and glitter to represent debris.
EXPLANATION:
The swirling motion you give the bottle forms a vortex and is a easy way to create your own tornado.