A tornado is a powerful, spinning column of air that touches both the ground and a cloud above. Tornadoes form when warm, moist air meets cold, dry air. This can cause a thunderstorm, and sometimes the storm spins. If the spinning becomes strong enough, a tornado can form. Tornadoes are known for their funnel shape, which makes them easy to spot. They can happen in many parts of the world, but the United States has more tornadoes than any other country.
Tornadoes can be dangerous because they bring strong winds that can destroy buildings, lift cars, and uproot trees. The most powerful tornadoes can have winds over 300 miles per hour! Tornadoes are rated on a scale called the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, from EF0, which causes light damage, to EF5, which can be very destructive.
People often get warnings about tornadoes so they can stay safe. If there is a tornado warning, it’s important to take shelter in a safe place, like a basement or an interior room with no windows. Scientists, called meteorologists, study tornadoes to learn how to better predict them and protect people from their dangers.
Comprehension Questions
Answer these questions in sentences. The answers can be found in the text above.
- What is a tornado?
- What types of air usually cause a tornado to form?
- What shape do tornadoes usually have?
- Which country has the most tornadoes?
- What kind of damage can tornadoes cause?
- How fast can tornado winds be?
- What is the Enhanced Fujita scale used for?
- What does EF0 mean on the Enhanced Fujita scale?
- What should people do if there’s a tornado warning?
- Who studies tornadoes to help predict them?
