![]() ![]() The weather forecast will give you a few hours' warning and some idea of what is coming. With most weather events, even hurricanes, you know what to expect. Imagery from GOES-13 enabled weather forecasters to foresee the trouble that was about to hit Alabama. In 2011, Alabama was struck particularly hard, with tornadoes rated EF-5 (the most intense) on the Enhanced Fujita scale hitting Hacklesburg and Birmingham. However, tornadoes can occur in any state. A ten-state area of the Midwest has been named "Tornado Alley" in recognition of its attractiveness to tornadoes. record for the most tornadoes in any month. What makes a cloud create one of these powerful assaults to Earth's surface? How is it that a violent whirlwind can form in a cloud and then reach to the ground and make splinters and chaos of everything in its path? A bad year for Tornado Alley. When it touches, it goes even darker as its ferocious whirling winds pick up dust, debris, and-if the windspeeds are fast enough-cows, cars, roofs, mobile homes, trees, and anything else not well-anchored in the ground.Ī strong tornado can pick up massive objects like trucks and drop them many miles away. For a while it hangs suspended in the sky. Suddenly, a twisting column of gray drops from the bottom of the cloud. Heavy, dark clouds hang low, dumping buckets of rain and hail. Click here to download an 11x17 inch poster version of the "What Causes a Tornado?" video! ![]()
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