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Welcome to our latest video, “What is a Tornado?” In this video, we’ll be exploring one of nature’s most powerful forces - the tornado!
A tornado is a powerful and destructive weather phenomenon that is caused by atmospheric instability. It is a rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud.
Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the world, but are most common in the United States. They are also most common in the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and humid.
Tornadoes can be incredibly destructive and dangerous, with winds that can reach up to 300 miles per hour (480 km/h) or more. They can uproot trees, destroy buildings, and cause widespread damage in just a matter of seconds.
So, how do tornadoes form? Tornadoes typically form when there are changes in wind speed and direction in the lower atmosphere. This creates a horizontal spinning effect, which then gets tilted vertically by the updrafts in a thunderstorm. This spinning column of air can then intensify, causing a tornado to form.
Tornadoes come in different shapes and sizes. The most common type of tornado is a narrow funnel-shaped cloud that is often referred to as a “tornado tube.” These types of tornadoes are typically the least destructive, but can still cause significant damage.
Another type of tornado is a wedge tornado. These are much wider and can be more destructive than tornado tubes. They are often the result of multiple vortexes that merge together, creating a much larger and more powerful vortex.
Tornadoes can also be classified based on their intensity using the Enhanced Fujita Scale. This scale ranges from EF0 (weak) to EF5 (violent), with each category representing a range of wind speeds and potential damage.
So, what should you do if you encounter a tornado? The most important thing is to stay safe! If you are at home or in a building, move to a small interior room or closet on the lowest level of the building. Stay away from windows and doors, and cover yourself with a blanket or mattress for protection.
If you are outside, try to find a low-lying area and lie flat on the ground. Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms, and stay away from trees, cars, and other objects that could be blown around by the wind.
It’s also important to stay informed about the weather in your area. Listen to weather reports and pay attention to any tornado warnings that may be issued by your local authorities.
In conclusion, tornadoes are a powerful and destructive force of nature that can cause significant damage and danger. However, by understanding how tornadoes form and what to do in the event of a tornado, you can help keep yourself and others safe.
We hope you enjoyed this video and learned something new about tornadoes. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to our channel for more educational videos for kids!
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Aaron, what are you doing?
I'm pretending to be a tornado.
I know a tornado spins.
But what is a tornado?
A tornado is a rapidly spinning tube of air.
It begins at the base of a thunderstorm and reaches down to the Earth's surface.
It touches both the ground and the cloud above.
Tornadoes can also be called cyclones or twisters.
Ah, so that's why my favourite boat I ride is called the cyclone.
Because it spins round just like a tornado.
Exactly!
But how do tornadoes form?
Most tornadoes form from thunderstorms.
You need warm, moist air and cold, dry air.
When these two air types meet, they may start to form a tornado.
A change in wind direction way high up in the sky makes the air swirl.
Air rising up from the ground pushes the swirling air and flips it over.
The funnel of swirling air begins to suck up more warm air from the ground.
The funnel grows longer and stretches towards the ground.
When the funnel touches the ground, it becomes a tornado.
So it is all about different types of air meeting.
A bit like hurricanes too.
Yes, I suppose you are right.
Only hurricanes usually form over the ocean.
Sometimes hurricanes can create tornadoes too.
Didn't all that spinning make you dizzy?
Is that really what a tornado looks like?
Yes, I suppose my head is spinning a bit.
Sometimes tornadoes can appear as a funnel shape or in a thin rope-like shape.
Some have a smoky look to them and others contain multiple vortices,
which are small, individual tornadoes spinning around.
Others may be nearly invisible with swirling dust as the only way to see them happening.
Actually, it is not fully understood how exactly tornadoes form, grow and die.
Tornado researchers are still trying to solve the Tornado Puzzle.
This is definitely like a comic book.
Who can solve the puzzle and stop James the Invisible Tornado?
You are really enjoying this.
You will be getting dizzy too.
Have you ever heard of a supercell thunderstorm?
What is a supercell thunderstorm?
Supercell thunderstorms are the largest, most severe class of single-cell thunderstorms.
These storms usually produce lots of hail, torrential rain and strong winds.
Supercell thunderstorms can produce violent tornadoes with winds exceeding 200 mph.
200 mph? I could be an invisible 200 mph tornado! Wow!
Here is another power for you.
Different types of tornado powers.
You could also be a waterspout.
A waterspout?
A waterspout is just a weak tornado that forms over the water.
They are most common along the Gulf Coast.
Waterspouts can sometimes move inland, causing damage and injuries.
For a landspout, this is a very weak tornado.
It is the land equivalent of a waterspout.
No, they wouldn't be powerful enough.
Well, what about a dust devil?
That sounds more like it.
What is a dust devil?
A dust devil generally forms in the hot sun, during the late morning or the early afternoon hours.
These are mostly harmless whirlwinds and are triggered by light desert breezes
that create a swirling dust with speed rarely over 70 mph.
These differ from tornadoes in that they are not attached to a thunderstorm or any cloud and are usually very weak.
No, too slow. This sounds scarier than it is.
Do they cause much damage?
Not usually.
But how are tornadoes measured?
The Fujita scale is a common way of measuring the strength of tornadoes.
The scale ranges from F0 tornadoes that cause minimal damage through to F5 tornadoes which cause massive damage.
F0, 40 to 72 mph, light damage.
Branches broken off trees, minor roof damage.
F1, 73 mph to 112 mph, moderate damage.
Trees snapped, mobile homes pushed over, roofs damaged.
F2, 113 to 257 mph, considerable damage.
Mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted, strong built homes unroofed.
F3, 158 to 206 mph, severe damage.
Trees overturned, cars lifted off the ground, strong built homes have outside walls blown away.
F4, 207 to 260 mph, devastating damage.
Houses leveled, leaping piles of debris.
Cars thrown 300 yards or more into the air.
F5, 261 to 318 mph, incredible damage.
Strongly built homes completely blown away.
Automobile sized missiles generated.
Wow! Tornadoes can really do a lot of damage.
How far can tornadoes travel?
Most tornadoes travel a few miles but extreme tornadoes can travel much further.
Sometimes over 100 miles or 161 kilometers.
The Tri-State Tornado that traveled through parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in 1925 left a path of destruction over 219 miles or 352 kilometers long.
That is a massive distance.
Imagine looking out your window to see a tornado coming in your direction.
Terrifying!
Where do tornadoes occur?
The USA averages around 1,200 tornadoes every year, more than any other country.
The majority of these tornadoes occur in a unique area nicknamed Tornado Alley.
U.S. states most often hit by tornadoes include Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Florida.
So there are no tornadoes in Europe?
Well, there are but not as many as in America and they are usually not as powerful.
Do you know that tornadoes can happen at any time of the year and at any time of the day?
In the southern states, peak tornado season is from March through to May.
Peak times for tornadoes in the northern states are during the summer.
Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
So Aaron, where was the deadliest tornado?
In 1989, the deadliest tornado ever recorded in the world killed around 1,300 people in Bangladesh.
How do people survive this extreme weather?
What do you do in a tornado?
Before a tornado, have a disaster plan.
Prepare a kit with emergency food for your home.
Have enough food and water for at least three days.
During a tornado, go to a basement.
If you do not have a basement, go to a room without windows on the lowest floor.
If you can, get under a sturdy piece of furniture like a table.
Get out of cars.
Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car.
Leave it immediately.
If you're outside, go to a ditch or low-lying area and lie flat in it.
If you are at scale during a tornado, every scale should have a disaster plan and have frequent drills.
Read advice, but that won't stop me from catching evil villains.
Ha ha ha ha!
I can see the headlines.
James the Incredible Invisible Tornado bounces 200 miles per hour.
Multiple vortices to catch the evil green grabber.
James, you're getting carried away.
Don't get too sucked into all this superhero stuff.
Get it? Sucked into? Tornado sucking stuff up.
Oh Aaron, will you ever stop?
Thanks for all the facts.
I'm off to write my new comic strip.
I can't wait to read about your adventures.
Tornado to the rescue!
Let's recap.
Let's recap on what we've learned today about tornadoes.
A tornado is a rapidly spinning tube of air.
It starts at the base of a thunderstorm and reaches all the way down to the Earth's surface.
Tornadoes are normally formed from thunderstorms when warm, moist air and cool, dry air meet.
A supercell thunderstorm is the largest, most severe type of thunderstorm.
The Fujita scale is a common way of measuring the strength of tornadoes.
An extreme tornado can travel very far, over 100 miles sometimes.
Tornadoes normally occur in an area nicknamed Tornado Alley.
If you're in school during a tornado, crouch down on your knees and cover your head with your arms.
Here are some words that are going to help you think about tornadoes.
Tornado, cyclone, thunderstorm, spin.
I really hope you enjoyed learning all about tornadoes.
We hopefully will see you soon.
I hope you enjoyed learning with us today.
We will see you soon.
