About Twister (Tornado)

News: A large tornado touched down in Kay County, Oklahoma, with multiple confirmed tornadoes during an active severe weather outbreak.

About Twister (Tornado)

• A twister, commonly known as a tornado, is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
• Formation Mechanism:
  • Initial Condition: Warm, moist air near the surface rises while cold, dry air above creates strong atmospheric instability.
  • Rotation Development: Wind shear causes changes in wind speed and direction with height, which creates a horizontal spinning motion in the air.
  • Vertical Formation: Strong updrafts in a thunderstorm tilt this horizontal rotation into a vertical position and intensify it.
  • Final Stage: Descending air helps pull the rotating column downward, and when it touches the ground, it becomes a tornado or twister.
• Type:
  • Supercell Tornadoes: These are the most intense and form from rotating thunderstorms with a mesocyclone, causing major destruction.
  • Landspouts: These are weaker and short-lived tornadoes that form without a mesocyclone.
  • Waterspouts: These form over water bodies and may sometimes move onto land.
  • Multiple-vortex Tornadoes: These consist of smaller rotating columns within a larger tornado, increasing damage intensity.
• Measurement: Twisters are measured using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, which classifies them based on damage and estimated wind speeds.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Structure: They appear as a funnel-shaped cloud, often visible due to dust and debris.
  • Intensity: Wind speeds can exceed 480 km/h, making them highly destructive.
  • Duration and Size: Most last less than 10 minutes, and their width can range from a few metres to over 3 kilometres.
  • Movement and Rotation: They follow unpredictable paths and rotate counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, while flying debris causes major damage.
• Geographic Distribution:
  • High Frequency: United States, especially Tornado Alley (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska).
  • Other Regions: Bangladesh, Canada, Argentina, and Australia.
  • India: Tornadoes are rare in India, they mostly occur in eastern states, including Odisha, West Bengal,Bihar, and Assam.