How Tornadoes Work

Created By Max Hawkes

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Tornadoes are not always the same. They need different conditions to start.

Temperature:

35 °c

As the ground temperature gets warmer, Air Heat and Moisture starts to rise back up.

Temperature:

42 °c

When the heat from the ground reaches the cold air, it creates a new layer in the sky making a thunder cloud.

- Note how much the temperature has dropped! -

Temperature:

18 °c

The heat from the ground still rises, quickly causing a storm.

Temperature:

6 °c

As the storm gets more rapid, winds from different directions join together and start to rotate.

Temperature:

3 °c

As the wind speed increases, the rotation gets faster and a small, visible cone drops out through the clouds.

Temperature:

1 °c

The vortex can be many different sizes and shapes. At this point, it has got bigger and it has speeded up.

Temperature:

1 °c

A tornado could last several seconds to more than an hour. Tornadoes can also travel hundreds of miles!

Temperature:

1 °c

Tornadoes can be so fast that they cannot be measured properly. The Fujita scale is used to estimate the speed.

Click on the scale above to see the damage

Scale Wind Speed (MPH)

F0 0 - 73

F1 73 – 112

F2 113 – 157

F3 158 - 206

F4 207 - 260

F5 261 - 318

F0 – Light Damage: Some damage to chimneys, Branches broken and some trees blown over.

F1 - Moderate damage: Moving cars blown off roads, mobile homes overturned, or pushed off their foundations.

F2 - Considerable damage: Mobile homes demolished, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

F3 - Severe damage: Trains overturned, most trees uprooted, heavy cars thrown, walls of homes destroyed.

F4 - Devastating damage: Well constructed buildings destroyed, large objects thrown.

F5 - Incredible damage: Cars thrown more than 100 metres, strong buildings swept away.

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Made by Max Hawkes