Tornadoes start as invisible entities, gradually morphing into raging monsters. These powerful spinning air columns can cause immense destruction. They form from high and low-pressure air masses, with supercell tornadoes originating from severe thunderstorms and non-supercell tornadoes from smaller storm systems. Warm air rising and cool air descending create wind patterns that eventually lead to tornado formation. Tornadoes are classified based on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, ranging from EF0 to EF5, with EF5 tornadoes being the most destructive.
Vocabulary:
• Gentility: The quality of being gentle.
• Supercell: A type of thunderstorm characterized by a persistent rotating updraft.
• Vortex: A mass of whirling fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind.
• Updraft: An upward current of air, especially within a thunderstorm.
• Mitigate: To make less severe, serious, or painful; to alleviate.
Source: National Geographic