Tornado Awarness

TORNADOES...WHAT ARE THEY?

NATURE'S MOST VIOLENT STORMS!

A TORNADO is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of the thunderstorm and in contact with the ground (when it is not in contact with the ground, it is called a FUNNEL CLOUD). Tornado winds average 100 mph, but can exceed 300 mph. The strongest tornadoes develop from severe thunderstorms in atmospheric conditions with a wind profile that varies with height. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes occur most often in the Mid-South in the months of March, April, and May. A secondary season occurs in the Fall, typically November and December. Most tornadoes occur in the afternoon and evening. However, tornadoes have occurred in every hour of the day and night and every month of the year. No location, time of day, or time of year is immune to tornado occurrences.

Your Safety will improve if you stay alert to the risk of tornadoes from thunderstorms that approach. This is especially true if a TORNADO WATCH is in effect. Conditions should be carefully monitored when severe thunderstorms are occurring, or are expected to occur. Severe Thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no warning.
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Know the difference between a TORNADO WATCH and a TORNADO WARNING.

A TORNADO WATCH means tornadoes may develop, so keep an eye to the sky for thunderstorms and the dangers they pose. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or TV for weather statements or warnings. A WATCH allows time to plan what to do if a tornado approaches. A watch usually spans several thousand square miles, and can cover parts of more than one state.

A TORNADO WARNING means a tornado has been sighted, or is indicated on weather radar. Persons in the path of the tornado should seek shelter immediately.

IF YOUR WORK PLACE, SCHOOL OR CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE A SAFETY PLAN, NOW IS THE TIME TO START ONE!! Developing a safety plan is not difficult. If a plan is easy to operate, it is more likely to be successful when needed. Countless lives are saved each year by planning, preparedness and proper education. The U.S. population has grown in recent years, yet the number of tornado deaths has diminished. This is due to agencies and individuals developing Weather Safety Plans and to people reacting in a prudent manner when severe weather threatens their areas.

YOUR SAFETY AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS & CO-WORKERS DEPENDS ON YOU!!

Tennessee averages about 12 tornadoes each year, resulting in an average of 3 fatalities. East Tennessee alone averages about 3 tornadoes each year. Our peak season for tornadoes are during March, April and May, and are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 PM. A secondary maximum of tornadoes will occur in November and December of which we have a very sad reminder this past November 10th.

Meteorologists rate the intensity of a tornado on the F scale or Fujita scale. This scale was developed in the early 1970s by Dr. Theodore Fujita. There are six levels of intensity starting with F0 being the weakest and F4 being the strongest. The wind speeds in a tornado can range as low as 40 mph (F0) and reach in excess of 300 mph (F5).

No place is immune to tornadoes. Tornadoes have been known to occur at all hours of the day or night and at any time of the year.

Every state, in the United States, has reported a tornado. Even Yellowstone National Park had a tornado at an altitude of 10,000 feet on July 21, 1987. This F4 tornado had a path length of 24 miles and a path width of 1.4 miles. 15,000 acres of trees were downed. Mountains and hills do not protect you from tornadoes.

The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed is 30 mph, but vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph.

The “Tri-state Tornado” on March 18, 1925 was one of the worst tornadoes on record. This F5 tornado had a path length of 219 miles, had an average forward speed of 62 mph and was on the ground for about 31/2 hours. The tornado started in southeast Missouri, roared through southern Illinois and ended in southwest Indiana. There were 695 deaths. 234 deaths occurred in Murphysboro, IL, which made it the largest death toll within a single city, in U.S. history.

A listing of tornadoes, by state, can be found at the website of the National Climatic Data Center at www.ncdc.noaa.gov/

This scale is named after Dr. T. Fujita, the noted meteorologist who has studied tornadoes extensively and classified the damage created by these storms.

F0 (weak)................. 40-72 mphn......Light damage...shallow rooted trees pushed over.
F1 (weak)................. 73-112 mph......Moderate damage...mobile homes overturned; roof surfaces peeled off.
F2 (strong)..............113-157 mph......Considerable damage...large trees uprooted...mobile homes destroyed
F3 (strong).............. 158-206 mph......Severe damage..trains overturned; well built homes lose roofs and walls
F4 (violent)............. 207-260 mph......Devastating damage..well built homes leveled; cars tossed about
F5 (violent)............. 261-318 mph......Incredible damage...well built homes disintegrate; cars thrown more than 300 feet