tornado
Sign in to saveA tornado, also known as a twister, is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends vertically from the surface of the Earth to the base of a cumulonimbus or cumulus cloud. Tornadoes are often (but not always) visible in the form of a condensation funnel originating from the cloud base, with a cloud of rotating debris and dust close to the ground. Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than , are about across, and travel several kilometers (a few miles) before dissipating. The most extreme tornadoes can attain wind speeds of more than , can be more than in diameter, and can stay on the ground f
AI overview
A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends from the ground up to a cloud base, often visible as a funnel with swirling debris and dust. Tornadoes matter because they can be dangerous and destructive—while most are relatively small and short-lived, the most extreme ones can produce very high wind speeds and cause significant damage over large areas.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Weather type.name
- Tornado
- Weather type.image
- F5 tornado Elie Manitoba 2007.jpg
- Weather type.caption
- A tornado approaching Elie, Manitoba, Canada in June 2007
- Weather type.area of occurrence
- Every continent except Antarctica
- Weather type.season
- Any, though primarily in spring or summer
- Weather type.effect
- Wind damage
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
41 sectionsContents
- Rating
- Etymology
- Definitions
- Funnel cloud
- Outbreaks and families
- Characteristics
- Size and shape
- Track length
- Appearance
- Rotation
- Sound and seismology
- Electromagnetic, lightning, and other effects
- Life cycle
- Supercell relationship
- Formation
- Maturity
- Dissipation
- Types
- Multiple vortex
- Waterspout
- Landspout
- Similar circulations
- Gustnado
- Dust devil
- Fire whirls
- Steam devils
- Intensity and damage
- Climatology
- Associations with climate and climate change
- Detection
- Radar
- Storm spotting
- Visual evidence
- Extremes
- Safety
- Myths and misconceptions
- Ongoing research
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
A tornado, also known as a twister, is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends vertically from the surface of the Earth to the base of a cumulonimbus or cumulus cloud. Tornadoes are often (but not always) visible in the form of a condensation funnel originating from the cloud base, with a cloud of rotating debris and dust close to the ground. Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than , are about across, and travel several kilometers (a few miles) before dissipating. The most extreme tornadoes can attain wind speeds of more than , can be more than in diameter, and can stay on the ground for more than .
Types of tornadoes include the multiple-vortex tornado, landspout, and waterspout. Waterspouts are characterized by a spiraling funnel-shaped wind current, connecting to a large cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud. They are generally classified as non-supercellular tornadoes that develop over bodies of water, but there is disagreement about whether to classify them as true tornadoes. These spiraling columns of air often develop in tropical areas close to the equator and are less common at high latitudes. Similar phenomena in nature include the gustnado, dust devil, fire whirl, and steam devil.