Supercell Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Tornado Formation: Supercell Thunderstorms
- air-mass thunderstorms don’t form tornadoes * not big enough and don’t have enough energy
- most tornadoes are produced within supercell thunderstorms * huge updraft of air causes wind shear and tilts the thunderstorm * tilt allows warm air to rise into central portions of the storm, while rain and hail fall in the front * cold air (containing rain and hail) doesn’t extinguish the storm like in an air-mass thunderstorm * storm moves laterally
- most tornadoes are produced by supercell thunderstorms
- 30% of supercell thunderstorms produce tornadoes
How Strong Are Tornadoes?
- very high speed winds * up to 310 mph
- blow away buildings and tress
- thrown debris acts like bullets or shrapnel * break windows, kill people
- fast winds can blow away roofs, then exposed walls are easily blown over
Storm Movement
- in the Northern Hemisphere, tornadoes and thunderstorms tend to move northeast due to prevailing winds
- the most tornadoes happen in Oklahoma
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