Tornado Facts and Myths to Be Aware Of

Tornadoes are among the most powerful and destructive natural phenomena on Earth. Known for their violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm all the way to the ground, they can cause widespread damage in a matter of seconds. 

Despite all the research that’s been conducted on them, they still remain unpredictable in many ways. This has led to a disparity between tornado facts and fiction. Together, let’s separate the two, explore the science behind it all, and review some survival tips should you ever be caught in the path of a tornado. 

Tornado Facts to Know

Let’s start with how tornadoes form. They’re rooted in a severe thunderstorm, particularly one with a large updraft of warm, moist air. These storms are called supercell thunderstorms. They contain a rotating updraft known as a mesocyclone. For a tornado to form, several factors must collide: 

• Instability: Warm, moist air near the surface must rise rapidly into the atmosphere. The greater the temperature difference between warm, moist air at the surface and cooler, drier air above, the stronger the instability.

• Wind Shear: Wind speed and direction must vary with height in the atmosphere. This difference in wind speed and direction causes the air to rotate horizontally.

• Lifting Mechanism: A lifting force, such as a cold front or the boundary of a thunderstorm, helps raise the rotating air into a vertical column.

• Moisture and Condensation: As air rises and cools, moisture in the air condenses, releasing heat, which further strengthens the storm.