Chapter 14

Oldest Known Photograph of a Tornado (1884)

Tornadoes
 Rapidly rotating column of air that flows
around a small area of intense low
pressure with a circulation that reaches
the ground.
Tornadoes
Table 14-2, p. 400
Tornadoes
 When
 F-Scale Converted to EF-Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale Feb 1 2007

F Scale Wind Speed EF-Scale Wind Speed

F0 45-78 EF0 65-85

F1 79-117 EF1 86-109
F2 118-161 EF2 110-137
F3 162-209 EF3 138-167
F4 210-261 EF4 168-199
F5 262-317 EF5 200-234
Wind speeds in mph, 3-second gust

Objectives: 3, EF-Scale structure; 4, EF vs F-Scale

 DOD to Wind Speed to EF-Scale

EF-Scale Categories Wind Speed Ranges

EF0 65-85
EF1 86-110
EF2 111-135
EF3 136-165
EF4 166-200
EF5 >200
Wind speeds in mph, 3-second gust

Objectives: 3, EF-Scale structure

Why the EF-Scale was created
 Need more damage
indicators The framed house is one of only
a few F-scale damage indicators.
 recalibrate winds
associated with F-scale
ratings
 better correlate wind and
rating
 account for construction
Evidence indicates a well
variability constructed house can be blown
away by winds much less than
 Flexibility, Extensibility, 260 mph (Phan and Simiu,2003).
Expandability
Tornadoes
 Tornado outbreaks
 Families, super outbreak
Super tornado outbreak April
3-4, 1974 315 deaths
http://www.april31974.com/
Palm Sunday April 11 1965
47 Tornadoes in 12 hours span
271 deaths, 3400 people injured
1.1 billion damage (2003 $$$$)
May 3-4 1999 Oklahoma City

 66 tornadoes
 46 fatalities, 800 injured
 1.5 billion damage
 An F-5 tornado

 http://www.norman.noaa.gov/2000/05/first-anniversary-of-may-3-1999-
tornado-outbreak-highlights-importance-of-warnings/
Fig. 14-37, p. 396
Tornadoes
 Tornado Occurrence
 US experiences most tornadoes
 Tornado Alley (warm, humid surface; cold
dry air aloft)
 Highest occurrence spring (may June),
lowest winter
 Highest Death Toll , April
Where else do tornadoes form?
Two of the highest concentrations of tornadoes outside the U.S. are
Argentina and Bangladesh. Both have similar topography with Brazil
(Argentina) or from the Indian Ocean (Bangladesh). mountains helping
catch low-level moisture from over Brazil (Argentina) or from the Indian
Ocean (Bangladesh).
Palm Sunday Tornado April 11 , 1965 271 deaths
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/palmsunday/

Super tornado outbreak April 3-4, 1974 315 deaths

http://www.april31974.com/
http://www.tornadoproject.com/toptens/toptens.htm
 Radar

Doppler Radar

Phased array
radars

http://www.oar.noaa.gov/spotlite/2008/spot_radar.html
Tornadoes
 Tornado winds
 Measurement based upon damage after
storm or Doppler radar
 For southwest approaching storms, winds
strongest in the northeast of the storm, 220
kts maximum
 Multi-vortex tornados
Tornadic Formation
 Basic requirements are:
 an intense thunderstorm
 Vertical wind shear
 Cold air aloft and warm moist air near
surface (unstable conditions)
 Initiation of convection
 Capping inversion
Vertical wind shear
Cold air aloft and warm moist air near surface (unstable conditions)
Initiation of convection
Capping inversion
Tornadoes
 Seeking shelter
 Basement or small, interior room on ground
floor
 Indoor vs. outdoor pressure
 The Fujita Scale
 Based upon the damage created by a storm
 F0 weakest, F5 strongest
 Enhanced Fujita Scale
Severe Weather and Doppler
Radar
 Doppler radar measures the speed of
precipitation toward and away radar unit
 Two Doppler radars can provide a 3D
view
 TVS, Doppler lidar
 NEXRAD
Waterspouts
 Rotating column of air that is connected
to a cumuliform cloud over a large body
of water
 Tornadic waterspout