1. Thunderstorms typically form when warm and moisture-filled air rises quickly and then cools. This forces the air to expand and rise more and form heavy clouds, which can lead to rain, hail and thunder.
2. Thunderstorms can produce lightning, which is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere. Lightning can heat the air around it to extreme temperatures, reaching nearly 50,000°F (27,760°C), which is five times hotter than the surface of the sun.
3. Thunderstorms can cause tornadoes, which occur when fast-moving winds and rotating columns of air create a powerful vortex. Tornadoes can cause significant damage, particularly when they touch down in populated areas.
How long does thunder last?
Thunder typically lasts less than one second. The sound of thunder is created by lightning, so the duration of the thunder will vary depending on how far away the lightning strike is. The closer the lightning strike is, the longer the thunder will last.
The sound of thunder can travel up to 10 miles and will be heard several seconds after the lightning strike, even if it is not seen. In general, thunder from a lightning strike that is close by can last up to five seconds, while thunder from a lightning strike that is far away may last for less than a second.
How fast do thunderstorms move?
Thunderstorms can move at varying speeds depending on a variety of factors such as the type of storm, direction and strength of the prevailing wind, how strong the updraft of air is, and any other weather patterns in the region.
On average, thunderstorms can move from 25 to 50 miles per hour. This means that if someone is standing in the path of a storm it could potentially reach their location in as little as 30 minutes. The forward motion of thunderstorms can be affected by topographical features such as mountains, hills, and valleys, which can either slow it down or divert it in another direction.
Additionally, thunderstorms can undergo a process known as “training” which occurs when the air is able to continuously organize and develop new thunderstorms along the same track, allowing the storm to travel faster than typical speeds.
In some cases, clear-air thunderstorms can travel even faster at speeds of up to 100 mph, known as a “gustnado”.
Why is thunder so loud?
Thunder is so loud because it’s the result of the rapid heated expansion of air associated with a lightning strike. A bolt of lightning can reach temperatures of up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which creates a shock wave that produces thunder.
The air around the shock wave can reach temperatures over 25,000 degrees. When the air is rapidly heated, it expands outward from the point of the lightning strike, creating a sound wave that we perceive as thunder.
Since it’s traveling so quickly, the sound wave is incredibly loud and carries a long distance as it dissipates through the air. This is why thunder after a lightning strike is so loud, even if the lightning bolt is many miles away.
How did thunderstorm start?
Thunderstorms are created due to the perfect combination of heated, rising air, moisture and instability of the atmosphere. When calm, dry air rises, the upper atmosphere cools the air and the water vapour condenses into water droplets.
As the droplets rise further and form clouds, the air is then heated by the Sun, causing them to rise even more. As they continue to rise, they become unstable and create an area of low pressure in the atmosphere.
When the water droplets in the clouds become cold and heavy, they fall back to the Earth as rain and hail. At the same time, the rapid ascent of the warm air creates a strong, vertical downdraft, which can produce lightning and thunder.
This also causes the air to become destabilized, allowing the thunderstorm to start.
What does Level 3 thunderstorm mean?
A Level 3 thunderstorm is classified as a severe thunderstorm, which is a storm that produces at least one of the following types of severe weather: damaging winds greater than 58 mph, hail at least one inch in diameter, or a tornado.
This type of thunderstorm also typically produces heavy rainfall of at least 1 inch or more in diameter. The storm is usually accompanied by intense cloud-to-ground lightning, thunder, and hail. Additionally, funnel clouds or weak tornadoes may form with Level 3 thunderstorms.
If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued in your area, it is important to take necessary precautions to ensure your safety.
How hot is lightning?
Lightning is incredibly hot, with temperatures of approximately 30,000 degrees Celsius (54,000 Fahrenheit). This temperature is hotter than the sun’s surface temperature, which is around 5,500 degrees Celsius (10,000 Fahrenheit).
Lightning is so hot because of the electrical energy that is released when a cloud-to-ground thunderstorm form. This released energy is equivalent to about one trillion (1,000,000,000,000) joules of energy, which is comparable to the energy released by a bomb.
Additionally, if enough lightning energy is released quickly and in a small area, the air around it will become heated to temperatures more than ten times hotter than the surface of the sun! Clearly, lightning is an incredibly powerful force of nature.
How fast is a tornado?
Tornadoes can vary in speed and are difficult to measure, but they are typically estimated to be traveling anywhere from 25 to more than 50 miles per hour. The average tornado moves at a speed of around 30 to 40 miles per hour, but this rate can vary greatly.
Tornadoes are known to have traveled at speeds of up to 71 miles per hour, and some have been observed traveling far faster.
In general, faster wind speeds are associated with larger and more damaging tornadoes, and the heaviest rain and hail are often associated with tornadoes that travel at slower speeds. Additionally, faster-moving tornadoes tend to travel for a shorter period of time and cover less geographic area, whereas slower moving tornadoes may linger and cover a larger distance.
Therefore, although the speed of a tornado can vary greatly, excessive wind speeds are always dangerous and can cause significant damage to the environment and life.
How old is the oldest tornado?
The oldest tornado on record is thought to be the “Olds Tornado,” which struck the small community of Olds, Alberta, Canada on June 22, 1907. The twister caused extensive damage and resulted in at least seven fatalities.
This tornado has been determined to be the oldest tornado in the historical record, with estimates of its age reaching over 110 years in some cases. Meteorologists studied the tree rings in the area to determine the exact age of the tornado and thus, its extraordinary longevity.
Can a tornado be broken?
No, a tornado cannot be broken like a twig. Tornadoes are powerful and dangerous events that involve rapidly spinning columns of air that descend from thunderstorm clouds. Tornadoes form due to very specific conditions, including a low-pressure system, humidity, instability, and wind shear.
The power of a tornado is derived from this wind shear, which creates an area of high wind speed and low pressure that then sucks the air upwards and causes the storm to rotate around its axis.
Because tornadoes are created by the natural environment and are ultimately a result of weather forces that are beyond our control, it is impossible to break them or to stop them entirely. However, there are some methods we can use to limit the potential damage caused by a tornado, such as building underground shelters, making buildings stronger, and ensuring that people and objects are not too close to the danger zone.
What happens if a tornado picks you up?
If a tornado were to pick you up, the experience would likely be incredibly terrifying. You could experience incredibly strong winds due to the tornado’s vortex and be lifted off of the ground and carried along with the tornado.
Depending on the intensity of the tornado, it could cause you to lose your footing, or even be thrown around as you are being carried. Additionally, the objects and debris being thrown around by the tornado as it travels can cause additional injury as they impact you while you are being carried by the winds.
If you are lucky, you will be able to survive the experience of a tornado picking you up. However, while unlikely, it is possible that the experience could be fatal, as those caught in the funnel can sustain serious injuries or be killed due to the powerful winds and flying objects the tornado carries.
What is a tornado facts for kids?
Tornadoes are powerful storms that can cause serious destruction. They are among the most dangerous types of storms, due to their high wind speeds, ability to create powerful and destructive impacts, and unpredictability.
Here are some interesting facts about tornadoes for kids:
• Tornadoes are created when warm, humid air meets cold, dry air. This creates an area of very low pressure near the ground, causing air to start swirling in a large, funnel-shaped cloud.
• Tornadoes are usually found in the middle latitudes, like in the United States, and are most often seen between April and July. However, tornadoes can occur throughout the year in some parts of the world.
• Most tornadoes form from thunderstorms and have a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from the base of the storm cloud to the ground.
• The Fujita (F) Scale is often used to measure the intensity of a tornado. The scale ranges from 0 (weak) to 5 (very strong), based on the type and amount of damage caused.
• Tornadoes can produce winds of up to 300 miles per hour, and can move at speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour. Tornadoes are so strong they can lift up large trees and debris, causing serious damage to buildings and other structures in their path.
• Warnings are issued to alert people when a tornado may be forming, and the National Weather Service provides detailed instructions on how to stay safe during a tornado. Taking shelter in a basement or an area on the lowest floor of a building is often the safest place to wait out a tornado.
• It is important to remember that tornadoes can cause serious injuries, death, and huge amounts of property damage. It is important for everyone to stay informed about the risks of tornadoes, and to stay informed about the latest weather forecasts.
What are the top 5 tornadoes?
The top 5 most powerful and deadliest tornadoes in recorded history are:
1. The Tri-State Tornado that struck on March 18th, 1925. This deadly tornado was labeled an “F5” on the Fujita Scale, with wind speeds up to 260 mph, and is the deadliest tornado in U. S. history. It tore a 219 mile path of destruction through parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana and caused over 695 fatalities and destroyed over 15,000 buildings.
2. The Tupelo Tornado which occurred on April 5th 1936 was classified an F4 and had wind speeds of up to 210 mph, causing 216 fatalities and severe damage in Tupelo, Mississippi.
3. The Flint, Michigan tornado on June 8th 1953 is considered to be the most powerful tornado with wind speeds recorded up to 260 mph. It caused over 200 injuries in addition to116 fatalities, and destroyed 791 homes.
4. The Plainfield, Illinois tornado on August 28th, 1990 was labeled an F5 and had winds up to 260 mph. It resulted in 29 fatalities and destroyed over 1,000 buildings.
5. The Joplin, Missouri tornado on May 22nd, 2011 was labeled an F5 with wind speeds up to 260 mph. This storm was particularly destructive, causing 158 fatalities, over 1,000 injuries and damaged or destroyed 7,500 buildings.
Can there be 5 tornadoes at once?
Yes, it is possible for there to be five tornadoes at once. Tornadoes can form in the same thunderstorm in different locations, or come from a cluster of severe thunderstorms. For example, the Super Tuesday Outbreak of February 5–6, 2008 caused severe weather across much of the southeastern United States and resulted in several clusters of storms that spawned 73 tornadoes in six hours.
Tennessee experienced the greatest number of tornadoes with a total of 32, including three EF4 tornadoes that occurred in five counties at the same time. So yes, it is quite possible for there to be five tornadoes at once.