Severe Storms
What
Tornados. They are violent windstorms that take the form of rotating column of air or vortex, that extends downward from a cumulonimbus cloud.
Where
Tornadoes can form anywhere in the world, but they form most often in regions with flat, dry terrain. Most devastating tornadoes form in Tornado Alley, a region of the Central United States that includes Northern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
When
Tornado season usually refers to the time of year the U.S. sees the most tornadoes. The peak “tornado season” for the Southern Plains is during May into early June. On the Gulf coast, it is earlier during the spring. In the northern plains and upper Midwest, tornado season is in June or July. But, remember, tornadoes can happen at any time of year. Tornadoes can also happen at any time of day or night, but most tornadoes occur between 4–9 p.m.
Formation of the Storm
Tornadoes can form in any situation that produces server weather, including cold fronts, squall lines, and tropical cyclones. The most intense tornadoes are those that form in association with super cells. An important precondition linked to tornado formation in server thunderstorms is the development of a mesocyclone. A mesocyclone is a vertical cylinder of rotating air, typically about 3 to 10 kilometers across, that develops in the updraft of a server thunderstorm. The formation of this large vortex often precedes tornado formation by 30 minutes or so.
Amount of Destruction
The amount of destruction caused by a tornado depends on how strong it is. Its strength can me measure on the Fujita Scale.
Injury or Loss of Life
During the course of 2014 there were injuries severe enough to cause 47 total deaths, as a result of tornadoes.