Tornadoes are one of the planet’s most photogenic natural disasters. As if displaying Mother Nature’s fury, tornadoes are strong wind cyclones caused by the difference of air temperature, pressure and electric charge. Causing deaths of 553 persons in 2013, the disaster is a highly impulsive natural phenomenon. Youngsters will find facts confirmed by Meteorologists on Tornadoes very fascinating. It’s the perfect time to go through these amazing tornado facts for kids.
Tornado Facts For Kids
Formula five:
The Fujita scale classifies twisters into five categories. F5, the most threatening scale for tornadoes only occur 0.1% of the time but cause 70% of damages. The largest, costliest and deadliest twisters of history are place in this group.
Bad luck:
The city of Oklahoma was first hit in 1893, as per official records. Ever since that time, the city is considered to me bad luck. It has been hit by an astounding amount of 100 tornadoes ever since. The second most “twisted” city his Huntsville, Alabama.
Timing:
A Tornado is highly unpredictable event that can occur at any time. Unlike other disasters such as floods, earthquakes and epidemics, Tornadoes are difficult to forecast. But scientists have narrowed down research to deduce that it occurs mostly between 3 to 9 pm.
Home Ground to score Home Runs:
As if on cue, the central region of America known as the Great Plains possesses rich wind activity. When these winds have different temperatures, they start moving in a cycle which results in a cyclone. Every year, an average of 500 twisters occurs in this region every year. Nicknamed “Tornado Alley”, this area encompasses Oklahoma, North/South Dakota, Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Louisiana and Arkansas.
Dust Devils:
Dust devils are nicknames for miniature tornadoes that occur in desert areas. In Death Valley, California, it is called a “sand auger”. They occur when hot air above the sand quickly rises through the breezy, low-pressure above it. This creates an axis of rotation for the wind causing a cyclone. In wastelands, sands are carried with these feeble storms creating a wind column a few meters in height, with average speeds near 45 miles per hour.
Eye of the storm: Tornado facts for kids
At the center of the Tornado, lies a rotating vortex of air. These turning thunderstorms are called mesocyclones. They are the primary cause of tornado activity. Also called “super cells” by storm chasers, they also cause severe winds, thunder bolts, flash floods and blizzards.
Tri-State Tornado:
In 1925, a horrific twister covering parts of Illinois, Indiana and Missouri killed 695 people and damaged property worth billions. The cyclone covered a distance of 352 kilometers from its origin.
Waterspout:
When tornadoes form over ocean waters they are known as waterspouts. Usually these cyclones are very small, but if they appear near coastal areas they may become inland to damage coastal areas. The Coast of Massachusetts was occupied a large and persistent spout on August 19th 1986. Standing at the height of 1,095 meters it was studied by a number of meteorologists who already predicted its location.
After studying these actualities, you will gain immense knowledge on Tornadoes, their scientific causes, their types and historic disasters. If you live in an area where twisters are a threat, please share this message to your friends and families so they will be better prepared in cases of emergencies. Do your duty and inform them.
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