Official Kids Mag November 2024 | Page 30

This past spring , a number of tornadoes caused destruction in Northwest Arkansas .
Within days of each other in September and October , two major hurricanes — Helene and Milton — caused high winds , flooding , heavy rain and tidal surges in Florida .
What are tornadoes and hurricanes ? How do they form ?
Tornadoes
Most tornadoes form during thunderstorms . The sky turns dark and green , and black storm clouds are threatening . The wind roars loudly . Your cat hides under the couch . Your dog starts howling . A tornado is forming .
Also known as twisters , tornadoes are spinning , funnel-shaped columns of air that stretch from the dark thunderclouds where they form , down to the ground . The wind from a tornado can top 250 mph – that ’ s faster than a race car ! These extreme winds can rip apart buildings , destroy bridges , flip trains and send cars flying . They can even tear the bark off trees and suck all the water from a riverbed .
How do tornadoes form ?
Tornadoes form when warm , moist air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cool , dry air from Canada , creating an unstable weather pattern . They can be wide , funnel-shaped clouds or thin , rope-like swirls .
During thunderstorms , meteorologists use weather satellites , weather balloons and buoys to gather information about wind speed and temperature . Then they analyze that data with supercomputers . This helps
scientists pinpoint where and when a twister might form , as well as how strong or long-lasting it might be .
Thanks to these tools , meteorologists can now predict when and where a tornado will form , giving people in a twister ’ s path more time to seek shelter . For instance , in the 1980s , people only had about a fiveminute warning before a tornado hit ; by the late 2000s , the warning time grew to 13 minutes
If weather conditions are right for a tornado to form , experts will announce a tornado watch for an area . This doesn ’ t mean that a tornado is on the way . But it could be – meteorologists issue the watch so people can be prepared .
When a tornado is actually spotted or picked up on weather radar , scientists issue a tornado warning for a smaller area , like a town or part of a city . That ’ s when you should take cover by moving to a small interior room or closet on the lowest level of your house . If you ’ re outside , lie flat on the ground in a low-lying area , and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands .
Tornadoes have been reported in various countries , but they mostly happen in the United States . There are about 1,000 tornadoes each year in the United States .
Hurricanes
The wind at the beach is whipping . Waves 16 feet tall are crashing down . Even sharks are heading out to calmer waters . A hurricane is on its way .
Hurricanes are strong storms that start in the ocean and have winds of at least 74 mph . Unlike some other storms , hurricanes can be tracked for days while they are out in the ocean , before they reach land . That means people often have time to take the necessary steps to stay safe when they ’ re in the path of a hurricane .
30 • November 2024 • www . OfficialKidsMag . com