Tornado
Tornado Map
Meehaa's Tornado map displays recent tornado & tornado force wind occurrences.
Tornadoes
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology to name a weather system with a low-pressure area in the center around which, from an observer looking down toward the surface of the earth, winds blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern. Tornadoes come in many shapes and sizes, and they are often visible in the form of a condensation funnel originating from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud, with a cloud of rotating debris and dust beneath it. Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than 110 miles per hour (180 km/h), are about 250 feet (80 m) across, and travel a few miles (several kilometers) before dissipating. The most extreme tornadoes can attain wind speeds of more than 300 miles per hour (480 km/h), are more than two miles (3 km) in diameter, and stay on the ground for dozens of miles (more than 100 km).
Tornado Data
Data is pulled from the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is part of the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Their mission is to provide timely and accurate forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States. The SPC also monitors hazardous winter weather and fire weather events across the U.S. and issues specific products for those hazards. They use the most advanced technology and scientific methods available to achieve this goal.
Tornado Watches
Data is pulled from the National Weather Service (NWS). That data is summarized here:
The National Weather Service (NWS) is an organization that relies heavily on science, partnerships, and ties to local communities to successfully provide weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. The NWS works with many partners, including those from national and local government, members of the weather enterprise, Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors, and Academia to help educate people in all communities on how to stay safe and ensure important weather information, such as warnings, reach the broadest possible audience.
Tornado, Wind, Hail Map
Preparing for Tornados
Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris.
During A Tornado
Immediately go to a safe location that you have identified.
Pay attention to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
Protect yourself by covering your head or neck with your arms and putting materials such as furniture and blankets around or on top of you.
Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle if you are in a car. If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible.
Ready.Gov
Ready.Gov is a National public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. It is maintained by The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
It is an excellent resource for information on emergency preparation and preparedness.
Tornado Dashboard
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita scale (abbreviated as EF-Scale) rates the intensity of tornadoes based on the severity of the damage they cause. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale—six intensity categories from zero to five, representing increasing degrees of damage. It was revised to reflect better examinations of tornado damage surveys, in order to align wind speeds more closely with associated storm damage. An "EF-Unknown" (EFU) category was later added for tornadoes that cannot be rated due to a lack of damage evidence.
Wind Speed
65 - 85 MPH
Minor damage
Small trees are blown down and bushes are uprooted. Shingles are ripped off roofs, windows in cars and buildings are blown out, medium to large branches snapped off of large trees, sheds are majorly damaged, and loose small items are tossed and blown away.
Wind Speed
86 - 110 MPH
Moderate damage
Roofs stripped from shingles or planting. Small areas of roof may be blown off house. Doors &garage doors blown in, siding ripped off houses, mobile homes flipped or rolled onto their sides, small trees uprooted, large trees snapped or blown down, telephone poles snapped, outhouses & sheds blown away.
Wind Speed
111 - 135 MPH
Considerable damage
Whole roofs ripped off frame houses, interiors of frame homes damaged, small and medium trees uprooted. Weak structures such as barns and mobile homes are completely destroyed.
Wind Speed
136 - 165 MPH
Severe damage
Roofs and numerous outside walls blown away from frame homes, all trees in its path uprooted or lofted. Two-story homes have their second floor destroyed, high-rises have many windows blown out, radio towers blown down, metal buildings are heavily damaged, sometimes completely destroyed.
Wind Speed
166 - 200 MPH
Devastating damage
Trees partially debarked, cars are mangled and thrown in the air, frame homes are completely destroyed and some may be swept away, moving trains blown off railroad tracks, and barns are leveled.
Wind Speed
200 MPH +
Incredible damage
Cars are mangled and thrown hundreds, possibly thousands of yards away. Frame homes, brick homes, and small businesses, are swept away, trees debarked, corn stalks flattened or ripped out of the ground, skyscrapers sustain major structural damage, grass ripped out of the ground.