Do First: Tornadoes

Tornadoes are spinning columns of air that are smaller than hurricanes. However, tornadoes may be more violent. This is because many tornadoes have stronger wind speeds than hurricanes. Also, unlike hurricanes, which form over tropical seas, tornadoes can form all over the world.

Scientists are still working to fully understand how tornadoes form. Tornadoes generally start as thunderstorms. Winds along the ground are slower due to friction along Earth’s surface. Winds in the clouds move faster due to less friction, and they also contain moist air.

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Why are tornadoes considered more violent than hurricanes even though they are smaller?

Sentence Starter: According to sentences _____ or paragraph 1, Tornadoes are more violent than hurricanes because...

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If slower winds along the ground move in the opposite direction of faster, wetter air in storm clouds, then the air may begin to rotate when the winds meet. Scientists think this can create a tornado, a long funnel of swirling air extending from the storm cloud to the ground. They hope that continued research and advances in technology will lead to a better understanding of how tornadoes form.

Tornadoes are categorized by their estimated wind speeds and the amount of damage they cause. The Enhanced Fujita scale breaks tornadoes into six categories. Scientists will use the amount of damage for 28 different types of construction (called damage indicators) to estimate the tornado’s wind speed and determine its EF category.

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On the afternoon of Monday, May 20, 2013, a large and extremely powerful tornado ravaged Moore, Oklahoma, and adjacent areas, with peak winds estimated at 210 mph, killing 24 people and injuring 212 others. What category was tornado Moore?

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Tornadoes are big __________ shaped clouds that can leave a wake of destruction

We know exactly how and why tornadoes occur...__________

An indication that a tornado is forming is a__________ cloud

The suns energy moves the horizontal vortex (spinning winds) into a __________position

Warm air being sucked into the storm from below causes the storm to…__________

Some tornadoes move slowly and some tornadoes travel at speeds up to…__________

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The peak season for a tornado is between...__________

The average time between a tornado warning and a strike is..__________

On average, Tornadoes kill __________ people per year.

Tornadoes are measured and categorized using the...__________

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Why are tornadoes considered more violent than hurricanes even though they are smaller?

Sentence Starter: According to sentences _____ or paragraph 1, Tornadoes are more violent than hurricanes because...

What type of scale measures Tornadoes?

On the afternoon of Monday, May 20, 2013, a large and extremely powerful tornado ravaged Moore, Oklahoma, and adjacent areas, with peak winds estimated at 210 mph, killing 24 people and injuring 212 others. What category was tornado Moore?

What creates a perfect condition for a tornado?

Do First: Tornadoes

Why are tornadoes considered more violent than hurricanes even though they are smaller?Sentence Starter: According to sentences _____ or paragraph 1, Tornadoes are more violent than hurricanes because...

What type of scale measures Tornadoes?

On the afternoon of Monday, May 20, 2013, a large and extremely powerful tornado ravaged Moore, Oklahoma, and adjacent areas, with peak winds estimated at 210 mph, killing 24 people and injuring 212 others. What category was tornado Moore?

What creates a perfect condition for a tornado?

Why are tornadoes considered more violent than hurricanes even though they are smaller?

Sentence Starter: According to sentences _____ or paragraph 1, Tornadoes are more violent than hurricanes because...