Lesson 2What are

tornadoes?

funnel cloud

• rapidly spinning column of air that comes down out of a thunderstorm

how tornadoes form

1. forms in thunderstorm

2. air in thunderstorm spins & tilts

3. narrow column of air inside becomes funnel shaped

4. funnel touches ground

vortex

• area where air or liquid spins in circles

waterspout

• rapidly spinning column of air over a lake or ocean

•column of whirling air•not a tornado

dust devil

dust devils

Doppler radar

• instrument used to look inside thunderstorm

• direction, speed of wind, vortex of tornado

Fujita scale• uses damage & wind speed to

classify tornadoes

tornado watch• tornadoes are likely to form within a few hours

?

tornado warning

• tornado has been detected

!

hurricane tornado

hurricane tornado

• destructive storms

• thunderstorm

•strong winds

• larger

• slower wind speed

• warm, ocean water

• days warning

•more rain

• smaller

• faster wind speed

• land

• minutes warning

•less rain