Tornado on the Horizon
Weather is a constant and mysterious phenomenon. Depending on where we are located, the weather is a steady stream of reliable rain, sun, and snow, or it is an ever-changing assault of meteorological events. Regardless of how we experience weather, we know of the powers it can possess. And the finest example of nature’s power is arguably harnessed within the infamous weather phenomenon; tornadoes.
What is a Tornado?
When we think of the common tornado, often The Wizard of Oz comes into mind. Movies like Twister depict, well, exactly that. A twister. But the truth is that tornadoes can come in many sizes and shapes. They can be long, winding twisters or they can be wide and wedge-shaped. And they can be anywhere in between.
A tornado, in definition, is a swiftly rotating column of air extending from the Cumulonimbus cloud to the ground. Often joining a tornado is hail, rain, lightning, and a change in air pressure. A tornado’s wind speeds can range from 65(mph) to over 300(mph).
To categorize the wind speeds different tornados produce-and the damage that consequently follows-scientists have developed a rating system called the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Or EF for short.
