What Is A Tornado?
A
Tornado is a violent storm with whirling winds of up to 300 miles per hour. It appears as a funnel shaped cloud, from
gray to black in color, which extends to the ground from the base of the
thunderstorm. A tornado spins like a top
and may sound like the roaring of an airplane or locomotive. In Florida,
summer tornados generally move at speeds less than 20 MPH and can move in any
direction. Winter tornados tend to move
at speeds less than 40 MPH and generally move from the southwest to
northeast. Their direction of travel can
be erratic and may change suddenly.
These short-lived storms are the most violent of all atmospheric
phenomena and the most destructive, over a small area.
When Can A Tornado
Occur?
Most
tornados in Florida
are likely to occur between 3 PM to 8 PM during the months of June, July, and
August; however, they can occur at any time, often with little or no
warning. Fewer tornados occur in the
winter and spring. Most tornados in Florida are considered
weak with winds of 50 to 100 MPH.
However, if a tornado occurs in the colder part of the year it tends to
be stronger than those in the summer. In
February of 1998, a series of violent tornados caused devastation in Kissimmee, FL. Forty-two people were killed and 260 were
injured. Last year, a strong summer tornado with wind speeds over 110 MPH occurred
in Port Charlotte and injured 3 people and
caused $500K in property damage. Tornados, which form over the Gulf, are called
waterspouts. Tornados often form in the
northeast quadrant of hurricanes that move in from the Gulf
of Mexico.
Tornado Watch or Tornado
Warning?
The National Weather Service
broadcasts severe weather conditions over the emergency alerting system as well
as NOAA Weather Radio (click here for the NOAA Weather Radio channel
in your area). When they post a tornado
watch they want the public to know that conditions are right for a
tornado. When a tornado warning is
posted for a given area, a tornado has been sighted or has been detected on
radar. The warning will include those
cities in the path of the storm.
In general, a watch means,
“Caution, Watch the Sky” and a warning means “Danger, Take Cover”.
For Tornado Watches:
When conditions are right for a tornado,
there are a few things, listed below, you should do:
1.
Stay tuned to a local weather station or listen to your NOAA Weather Radio.
2. Secure any loose objects outdoors, or move
them inside.
3. Survey local structures for the most suitable
shelter.
4. Keep watching the sky to the south and
southwest. If you see any funnel shaped clouds,
report them immediately to the nearest
law enforcement agency and take cover.
For Tornado Warnings:
This means a tornado has been
spotted near your area or is predicted to come your way. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!! Do not leave shelter until you
are sure no further danger exists.
Remember, there is no guaranteed safe place during a tornado. Here are some examples of places you may be
in:
1.
In a Motor Vehicle: The least
desirable place to be during a tornado is in a motor vehicle. Never try to outrun a tornado in your
car. Stop your vehicle and get out. Seek shelter elsewhere. Do not get under or next to your vehicle. A ditch or ground depression will help, if a
tornado shelter is not nearby.
2.
At School: Follow
the school disaster plan. Stay away from
auditoriums, gymnasiums, and other areas with wide, free-span roofs. Go into center hallways and stay away from
windows.
3.
Open Country: Move away
from the tornado’s projected path at right angles. Seek shelter in a ditch, ravine, or culvert. Even a low spot in the ground will give you
some protection. Stay away from trees
and remember to protect your head.
4.
In a Home or Condo: The best
place to go is the innermost hallway on the lowest floor. An interior closet is relatively safe. An interior bathroom is even better. The walls are close together 
and the
bathtub, sink, and toilet help support debris in case the house collapses. AVOID WINDOWS. Since flying debris does most of the
killing, the worst kind of flying debris is broken glass.
5. DO NOT open “any
windows” when a tornado approaches to equalize pressure. If a tornado actually gets close enough for
the pressure drop to be experienced, the strong winds have probably already caused
the most significant damage. Opening
windows, in fact, may actually increase damage.
6. In a Mobile
or Manufactured Home: These homes are easy to damage by flying debris and
are one of the least desirable places to be during a tornado. If a tornado approaches, seek other shelter
immediately. Go to a tornado shelter on
foot, if possible. Do not drive your
car. Do not get under your mobile home.
If no other shelter is available, lie down in a ditch or a ground depression.
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