What Is A Tornado?
A tornado is a column of air that rotates at a very high speed. They are often seen as the strongest type of wind on Earth. The strongest wind ever recorded on Earth was in a tornado that took place in 1999 in Bridge-Creek and Moore, Oklahoma. The fastest wind speed ever recorded in Canada was in the 2007 Elie tornado.
Tornadoes are measured using the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which is an updated version of the Fujita Scale created by scientist Ted Fujita. It goes from F0/EF0 (not very destructive) to F5/EF5 (able to destroy every house in its path, leaving nothing in its wake).
If a tornado is headed towards you, you are indeed in danger, especially if it is a powerful one.
How Does A Tornado Form?
When cool air originating from closer to the poles and warm air originating from close to the equator collide, they can create a type of cloud called a supercell. Warm air rises and can create a rotating wind. When that wind comes down out of the cloud to the ground, a tornado is born.
A tornado generally lasts about 10 minutes, but it can last several hours.
What Are The Dangers Of A Tornado?
The primary danger of a tornado is that it picks up and throws debris around near it. It will tear through objects, damage them, and the nearby debris is often thrown around, acting as a danger to people. Even in an area with no objects that can be turned into debris, a powerful enough tornado can pick you up and throw you. Tornadoes average over 200 deaths per year, with most deaths happening in either the United States or Bangladesh.
When And Where Are Tornadoes Common In Canada?
Most tornadoes in Canada occur in Canada’s tornado alley, which is mostly in the Prairies and southern Ontario. Most tornadoes occur in the spring or summer, and during the late afternoon or the evening.
How Will I Know If A Tornado Is Coming?
There will usually be weather warnings about it. A tornado watch indicates that conditions are favourable for tornadoes. A tornado warning means there has been a sighting.
How Do I Prepare For A Tornado?
Here are some things you can do to prepare for a tornado. Before the tornado, you should”
- Have a few days of supplies (food, water, etc.) ready in case there is a long-term power outage. Having a first aid kit is also advisable
- Drill a ‘tornado plan’ and where to go.
- Have a safe location for a tornado planned. This should be somewhere underground on your property if possible, away from windows.
During a tornado, do the following:
- Head to a safe location, underground and with no windows, if at all possible.
- Lie down, preferably on your stomach, with your hands over your head.
Tornadoes usually don’t last long, but this advice could save your life.
