Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

1. Thunderstorms and Tornadoes By: Sara Gallant, Chelsea McCall and Alicia Bonventre

2. What is a Thunderstorm? Thunderstorm clouds are formed wherever there is enough upward motion, instability in the vertical, and moisture to produce a deep cloud that reaches up to levels somewhat colder than freezing. Thunderstorms can occur at any time during the year, but especially in the spring and summer months. This is because the altitude of freezing for water vapor is greater in warmer climates. Thunderstorms occur most frequently in warmer climates. Some of these places include South Asia, Central Europe, New Mexico and Florida.

3. What is a Tornado? Tornadoes are generally formed from severe thunderstorms resulting from interaction of warm moist air from the South or Southwest and cool dry air from the West or Northwest. Thunderstorms develop in warm, moist air in advance of eastward-moving cold fronts. These thunderstorms often produce large hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year.In the southern areas, peak tornado occurrence is in March through May, while peak months in the northern areas are during the summer.

4. Potential for Destruction Tornadoes The destructive power of tornadoes is rated by a scale called the Fujita Tornado Damage Scale. A category F0 tornado can do damage to chimneys, break branches off of trees, push over shallow-rooted trees and do damage to sign boards. F1 tornadoes peel the surface off of roofs, push mobile homes off of their foundations and blow moving cars off of the road. An F2 tornado will tear the roofs off of houses, demolish a mobile home, overturn boxcars, lift cars off of the car and snap or uproot large trees. F3 tornadoes do severe damage. They tear walls and roofs off of well-constructed houses, overturn trains, uproot trees in forests and lift heavy cars off of the ground. A F4 tornado will level a well-constructed house, weaken structure foundations and blow cars around. Finally, a F5 tornado will lift a strong framed house, create automobile sized missiles flying through the air in excess of 100 meters. Trees are debarked and incredible phenomena will occur.

5. Potential for Destruction Thunderstorms Thunderstorms can cause disruptions in power, gas, telephone, and even water supplies. These disruptions can last from a few hours to a few days, depending on the severity of the storm and the damage that the storm leaves behind. In addition, thunderstorms can spawn other disasters such as flash floods and landslides.

6. Tornadoes in Windsor On June 17, 1946 Canada's third worst tornado in history touched down in Windsor. It crossed the Detroit river and into Windsor, killing 17 people and destroying and damaging 400 homes in Windsor and the surrounding county. The tornado also took down 150 barns and farm buildings, and uprooted hundreds of orchard trees and full-grown woodlots. On April 3, 1974 deadly tornadoes hit Windsor. Within eight hours, the tornado hit Windsor as well as 11 states in the U.S. 323 people died in Windsor alone. The tornadoes caused more than $1 billion dollars in damage. In Windsor, one funnel cloud touched down at several locations taking eight lives at the Windsor Curling Club.

7. Interesting Facts On Wednesday, May 27, 1896 the world’s most terrifying and destructive tornado touched down in the St. Louis area. The average thunder storm lasts 10-30min. 2000 thunderstorms occur worldwide at any given moment The U.S. has the most reported tornadoes of any country

8. Thunderstorms in Windsor THE END!