tornadoes - oh my!
TRANSCRIPT
Tornado slidedeck overview:
• How tornadoes form
• Types of tornadoes
• The Enhanced Fujita Scale
• Tornado Shapes
Fun Fact:
Only about one thunderstorm in a thousand produces tornadoes. Most tornadoes form during rotating supercellthunderstorms that often grow to over 40,000 feet.
Credit: UCAR Digital Image Library
How are tornadoes classified?
• What are the limitations of using qualitative observations (shape, colors) to classify the strength of a tornado?
Enhanced Fujita Scale
• The Enhanced Fujita scale assigns a tornado “rating” based on estimated wind speeds and related damage
• The National Weather Service is the only federal agency with authority to provide “official” tornado EF Scale ratings
The Enhanced Fujita Scale
The EF Rating is on a scale 0 to 5, depending on the 3 second gust (mph)
Ranks 1-28 based on damage indicators (DIs) such as building type, structures, and trees.
Shapes of tornadoes
• Stove-pipe
• Dust Column (generally small and weak)
• Wedge (Large and fierce)
• Rope