
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Motivation
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During this Storm
watchers presentation,
you will learn about a
few different tornadoes
and how actual Storm
Chasers rate the
intensity of the
tornadoes they see.
You will also be tested
periodically to make
sure you’re keeping up
with all the facts about
these terrifying
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twisters!
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you have
learned. (This
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nonfunctional,
it is just a
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
In This
Presentation:
You will learn about three types of
Tornadoes.
 We will cover
and
 You will be quizzed throughout this
power point to test your knowledge of
these different tornadoes!
,
Basic Facts:
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What is a tornado?
 A tornado is a rotating
column of air that is
accompanied by a funnel
shaped downward
extension of a cloud.
 Tornadoes are very violent
and can cause severe
damage.
 About 1,000 tornadoes hit
the United States each
year.
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Where Are They Found?
 Tornadoes can occur everywhere, but majority of
them occur in the middle of the United States.
 “Tornado Alley” is the area that has the strongest
tornadoes. This includes SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, and
CO.
How Do Tornadoes
Form?
 Tornadoes usually begin
in the form of a
thunderstorm.
 When two masses of
different temperatures
and humidity meet, they
are likely to form.
 If lower layers of the
atmosphere are
unstable, an upward
movement of warmer air
is formed.

The rising air within the
updraft tilts the rotating
air from horizontal to
vertical.
 As it rises, it begins to
spiral and intensify.
Most Common
Tornadoes:
 Land spout
 Waterspout
 Super Cell
Land Spouts
 This is a land-based
tornado.
 Most often occur in dry
areas with high-based
storms.
 They are usually defined
by swirling dust, may
have a weak
condensation funnel
reaching up to the cloud
base, and can be quite
destructive.
Land Spout
Vocabulary:
 Updraft: air currents full of warm, moist air
 Funnel: the shape of the tornado
 Vortex: the center of the tornado that acts like a
vacuum
Land Spout Review:
 A Land Spout is a land based tornado
 It extends from a cloud
 Their centers are called vortexes
On to the
Quiz!
QUIZ TIME!
The Vortex is the
_____ of the tornado
which acts like a
vaccum ?
A
Updrift
B
Funnel
C
Center
TRY
AGAIN!
BACK TO
QUESTION
Move onto the next
lesson!
BACK TO
TORNADO PAGE
Waterspout
Tornadoes:
-Intense columnar
vortex that occurs
over a body of water
and is connected to a
cumuliform cloud.
-A Cumuliform cloud
develops in a vertical
direction
Life Cycle:
 There are 5 stages to the waterspout life
cycle:

-Formation of a dark spot on water
surface

-Spiral pattern on the water surface

-Formation of a spray ring

-Development of visible condensation
funnel
Where do they
occur?
 These tornados occur mostly in the tropics,
but can seasonally appear in the temperate
areas throughout the world.
 Common on the Great Lakes during late
summer and early fall.
 Approximately 160 waterspouts occur each
year.
REVIEW:
 Cause little damage.
 Occur mostly in the tropics
 Life cycle is in 5 stages
ON TO QUIZ
QUIZ TIME!
Where do these
tornados mostly
occur?
A
United States
B
The
Tropics
C
Australia
LET’S TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK…
BACK TO
QUESTION
Continue onto the next
lesson!
BACK TO
TORNADO PAGE
Super Cell Tornado
Super Cell Vocab:
 A super cell is a thunderstorm that is
characterized by the presence of a
mesocyclone
 A mesocyclone is a deep, continuouslyrotating updraft
 An updraft is the vertical movement of air. It
is one of two forces causes the air to move
Characteristics Of Super Cells:
 Isolated from other thunderstorms
 They usually produce amounts of hail,
strong rainfall, and strong winds.
 Develop two separate updrafts with
opposing roatations
Super Cell Review:
 A super cell is a thunderstorm that is characterized
by the presence of a mesocyclone
 Super Cells form from strong winds and their
updrafts
 Super Cells are most commonly found in the
Midwest, in tornado alley.
ON TO
QUIZ
QUIZ TIME!
This tornado is formed by a
________, a deep continuously
rotating updraft.
A
Thunderstorm
B
Vo r t e x
C
Mesocyclone
TRY AGAIN!
BACK TO
QUESTION
Continue on to the next
lesson!
BACK TO
TORNADO PAGE
THE FUJITA
SCALE

How To Use The Fujita
Scale?
 The scale helps to decide the
intensity of a tornado based on the
amount of damage that has occurred.
 In order to use it, just identify which
damage was caused and look at its
rating.
Let’s Practice!

What
would the
F-rating of
a tornado
that turns
over trains
and cars
be?
The
Correct
Answer Is
F3!
QUIZ TIME!
The Fujita Scale
helps to find the
intensity of the
tornado based off
the ______?
A
Wind Speed
B
Amount of damage
C
Location where
it occured
TRY AGAIN!
BACK TO
QUESTION
Continue to the next
question!
QUIZ TIME!
TRUE OR FALSE:
The Fujita Scale is
useful for predicting
when tornados will
occur ?
TRUE
FALSE
TRY
AGAIN!
BACK TO
QUESTION
You Answered Correctly!
Continue On!