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