The Scoop on Tornadoes
Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________
Do you remember how you felt when you first saw the tornado scene in the Wizard of Oz? For sure, a tornado is one of nature's most terrifying and awe-inspiring displays. The most violent ones can cause unbelievable devastation in a matter of seconds.
In this activity, you'll explore how tornadoes form and the many shapes and sizes they can appear in. You'll also get the real facts about some common tornado myths.
- Go to the National Weather Service page Tornadoes: Nature's Most Violent Storms. Read the first paragraph under the heading Tornado! What is the definition of a tornado?
- Where and when do tornadoes occur most frequently worldwide?
- Each year, an average of __________ tornadoes are reported nationwide resulting in __________ deaths and __________ injuries. The most violent ones have winds of over __________ miles per hour. The path of destruction can be more than __________ mile wide and __________ miles long.
- Read the paragraph What Causes Tornadoes? Describe the weather conditions that make tornadoes possible.
- What is a "dryline"?
- Scroll to the paragraph Waterspouts. What is a waterspout?
- Where do waterspouts typically form?
- Continue down to How Do Tornadoes Form? Look at the five tornado illustrations and read the captions. Summarize the steps in the formation of a tornado.
- Scroll to Tornadoes Take Many Shapes and Sizes. Complete the table.
Category Weak tornado Strong tornado Violent tornado Percent of all tornadoes Perecent of all deaths Lifetime (how long it lasts) Range of wind speeds - Scroll to Tornado Myths. State three common tornado myths and provide facts to counter them.
- Continue to Weather Radar Watches the Sky. What does Doppler radar detect?
- Read the paragraph Frequency of Tornadoes. How does peak tornado season differ for northern and southern states?
