- Origen: A rotating column of air (visible condensation funnel); from cumulonimbus cloud to earth surface
- Twister
- Cyclone (a closed low pressure circulation)
- Trigger: Cumulonimbus cloud, strong winds and heavy rain, or nothing at all
- Behavior: Medium fast onset and difficult to get away
- Place: All areas; Common in “Tornado Alley” in USA, but can occur basically everywhere.
- Other: It is possible to predict potential risk, and estimate the onset
- Criteria for a tornado is that the vortex is in contact with ground and cloud base
- Not all tornados are visible
- Description:
- Normal: speed 177 km/h, 80 m across and travels some kilometers before dissipating
- Extreme: speed 480 km/t, 4 km across and travels more than 100 km
- Scales:
- The Fujita scale rates damages from tornados; 0-5.
- The Torro scale rates tornados: 0-11.
- Detail: Low pressure due to high wind speed and extreme rotation condense water into clouds; creating the funnel cloud
- Precaution:
- Creating a cloud of debris and dust
- The condensation funnels narrow end that touches the ground and create damage
- Careful with debris and dust
- Closedown of Society: Fast and short lasting