Tornadoes, also called twisters, are columns of air rotating dangerously fast. The air is in motion because of the difference in pressure between the center of the tornado ( very low pressure) and the outer edge of the tornado (high pressure). Some tornadoes are narrow, only 250 feet (75 meters) across where they touch the ground.
You might be thinking “Are tornadoes low or high pressure?”
A tornado is not necessarily visible; however, the intense low pressure caused by the high wind speeds (as described by Bernoulli’s principle) and rapid rotation (due to cyclostrophic balance) usually cause water vapor in the air to condense into cloud droplets due to adiabatic cooling.
Another frequent inquiry is “How does high pressure affect tornadoes?”.
An extension of the Bermuda high (a centre of high atmospheric pressure that develops over the Atlantic Ocean) dominates the southeastern third of the United States, and, while thunderstorms occur frequently in the warm, moist air, they seldom become severe. In late fall the days grow shorter, the temperature and moisture contrast intensifies again, and the centre of tornado activity retreats south toward the Gulf, completing the annual cycle.
Unsettled, stormy weather is usually found near the low pressure while dry conditions are typical with the high-pressure. Strong, particularly persistent Rex blocks can cause flooding near the low-pressure part of the block and short-term drought under the high-pressure part.
How are tornadoes worse than earthquakes?
Tornadoes are worse than earthquakes in pretty much the same way as tsunamis – water. Tornadoes, due to the intense low pressure of the storm, cause a ‘bowl’ depression in the sea off the coast. As this depression forms, the water around it bulges up to compensate – this is called a storm surge.
One of the next things we wondered was; which states are at high risk for tornadoes?
Tornadoes by state. With a 30-year annual average of 151 tornadoes from 1989 to 2019, Texas is the most tornado-prone state in the U. S, followed by Kansas with 91 and Oklahoma with 68. [2] While it’s no secret that states like Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska experience a lot of tornadoes, the term Tornado Alley may be outdated.