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A tornado is a violent storm that creates a rotating column of air that spins at tremendous speed. Often it will rain, hail, and produce a great, roaring sound at the same time. When a tornado touches the ground, it can cause a path of damage up to 50 miles long. Most tornadoes last less than 10 minutes.
On a hot day, ground temperature increases and starts to rise.
When the warm air from the ground meets a dark thundercloud, it creates an updraft .
A storm forms quickly, bringing rain, hail, thunder, and lightning.
The updraft meets a cold downdraft and begins to spin. A cone shape becomes visible.
The rotating air forms a vertical funnel . It sucks in warm air, making it spin faster. When it reaches close to the ground, it is a tornado .
Standards Link: Science: Students understand atmospheric processes that cause weather.
Do the math. If the statement has an even-numbered answer, it’s TRUE. Odd numbered answers are FALSE.
Go into a ___________ or a below-ground shelter. If you are inside a building, crouch down and cover your ________ with your hands. Stay away from walls and __________.
Tornado comes from the Spanish word tronada meaning thunderstorm. Tornadoes rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Winds on the outside of a tornado can reach 250 mph. The United States has about 1,200 tornadoes each year.
Shelter in an inside closet or bath. Cover yourself with a _____________ or blankets as protection from flying debris. If you’re in a car, get out. Lie in a ditch and cover your head with your ________. After it has passed, watch out for downed power lines, broken glass, and _________ structures. Standards Link: Health: Know concepts and practices concerning injury prevention and safety.
Replace the missing words.
© Vicki Whiting June 2025
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