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PC: CNN

Context

Over 20 people were killed recently in the southern United States as a result of severe storms and tornado outbreaks that hit Missouri and Kentucky.

What is a Tornado?

Wind Speeds and Movement

• Tornadoes normally have wind speeds ranging from 105 to 322 km/h, though some extreme events may exceed this range.
• They can remain immobile or move at great speeds, frequently traveling at 97 km/h across the countryside.
• Tornadoes are among the most devastating natural phenomena on land due to their extreme speed and intensity.

Mechanism of Formation of a Tornado

• Tornado formation is intimately related to interactions between different air masses.
• Thunderstorms and tornadoes are formed when warm, moist air (generally from tropical regions) collides with cool, dry air (usually from polar or higher regions), particularly in the presence of a low-pressure system or trough.
• Cyclonic circulations and atmospheric instability add to the rotational dynamics required for tornado formation.
• Tornadoes are most common in mid-latitude regions (20° to 60° latitude in both hemispheres) when cold polar air meets warm tropical air, resulting in frequent thunderstorm activity.
• The United States has the highest tornado frequency in the world, notably in the region known as "Tornado Alley".
• Tornadoes are also common in Argentina and Bangladesh, both of which are located in the tropical-midlatitude interaction zones.
• Tornado strength is classified using the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which takes into account projected wind speeds and damage levels.
• The scale goes from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest), with EF5 tornadoes being the most damaging, typically destroying buildings and uprooting trees.

Source: Dw.com