Portal:Tornadoes
Note: Tornadoes are very dangerous and potentially deadly. Always take tornado warnings seriously and immediately seek shelter. |
The Tornadoes Portal
Selected tornado article -
Tornado myths are incorrect beliefs about tornadoes, which can be attributed to many factors, including stories and news reports told by people unfamiliar with tornadoes, sensationalism by news media, and the presentation of incorrect information in popular entertainment. Common myths cover various aspects of the tornado, and include ideas about tornado safety, the minimization of tornado damage, and false assumptions about the size, shape, power, and path of the tornado itself.
Some people incorrectly believe that opening windows ahead of a tornado will reduce the damage from the storm. Some people also believe that escaping in a vehicle is the safest method of avoiding a tornado, but this could increase the danger in some situations. Other myths are that tornadoes can skip houses, always travel in a predictable direction, always extend visibly from the ground to the cloud, and increase in intensity with increasing width. Finally, some people believe that tornadoes only occur in North America, do not occur in winter, or that some areas are protected from tornadoes by rivers, mountains, valleys, tall buildings or other geographical or man-made features; the truth is that tornadoes can occur almost anywhere at any time if the conditions are right. Some geographic areas are simply more prone to these conditions than others. (Full article...)
Selected tornado list -
Since its initial usage in May 1999, the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States has used the tornado emergency bulletin — a high-end classification of tornado warning — sent through either the issuance of a warning or via a "severe weather statement" that provides updated information on an ongoing warning—that is issued when a violent tornado (confirmed by radar or ground observation) is expected to impact a heavily populated area, and pose a significant threat to life and property. The tornado emergency wording is issued when reliable sources confirm an ongoing tornado with a catastrophic risk to life and property.
To date, a total of 201[needs update] (304 unofficially) known tornado emergencies have been issued by the NWS through its local Weather Forecast Offices; all but 16 of these have resulted in a confirmed tornado, with the resulting tornadoes being responsible for a total of 554 fatalities. Currently, the 2011 Super Outbreak holds the all-time record for the most tornado emergencies issued during a 24-hour period, with a cumulative total of 16 issued (between four local NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) serving the southeastern United States) during the outbreak event. (Full article...)
Selected image -
The 2011 Joplin tornado was an EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011, killing at least 158 people and causing over $2.8 billion in damage.
Selected tornado year -
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1981, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. (Full article...)
Related portals
2024 tornado activity
A significant tornado outbreak, along with a derecho, affected much of the Midwestern and Southeastern United States from April 1 to 3, 2024. The National Weather Service issued dozens of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings across those regions during the event. The outbreak first began over portions of the Great Plains and Midwest on April 1, with widespread large hail and damaging winds and a few tornadoes being reported. The outbreak then spread to the Midwest and Ohio Valley on April 2, where the derecho occurred. This was followed by supercell development later in the afternoon. Severe storms also affected parts of the Mid-Atlantic on April 3 as well. A total of 32 million people were estimated to be under watches or warnings, and over 700,000 people were estimated to be without power. Twenty-five people were injured; and five people were killed, all of them by non-tornadic events; three of which happened when downed trees fell onto vehicles in Pennsylvania and New York. The storm system was also responsible for causing flooding in parts of the Northeast, and heavy snow over parts of the Midwest and Northern New England.
The Storm Prediction Center first outlined on April 1 an enhanced risk in areas from north Texas to eastern Illinois, encompassing much of the central United States. In the afternoon hours of the same day, supercell thunderstorms began to develop across northern Texas, moving northeastward and producing large hail. As the event progressed, many tornadic supercells produced brief and weak tornadoes along with high wind gusts; a gust of 90 mph (140 km/h) was recorded in West Virginia, classifying the squall line as a derecho.
The National Weather Service declared the tornado outbreak "historic", stating that not only did it set a daily record for West Virginia, but also broke the yearly record, in one day. Ten tornadoes occurred in West Virginia; which also set a state record for the most tornadoes confirmed in a single day. The previous record was seven; set on both April 4, 1974 and June 2, 1998. (Full article...)Tornado anniversaries
December 29
- 2006 – An outbreak of 26 tornadoes hit portions of Texas. An F2 tornado struck Kosse and Groesbeck, killing one person and injuring 20. Another F2 tornado injured 12 people in Johnson County.
- 2019 – Eight tornadoes struck Mississippi and Alabama. Three EF1 tornadoes struck Attala County, Mississippi, resulting in mostly minor damage.
December 30
- 1931 – An F4 tornado moved through the eastern edge of Magee, Mississippi and continued on to strike New Hebron, Mississippi. Five people were killed and 50 were injured, with most of the deaths at a turpentine came near Magee. Debris from homes was carried 3 miles (5 km).
- 1973 – Three tornadoes touched down in Alabama and Georgia. An F3 tornado struck Fort Rucker, the second to do so in two days, and caused significant damage before destroying several trailers in Ozark, Alabama. At least 14 people were injured.
December 31
- 1947 – A tornado outbreak struck the Southern United States, resulting in 20 fatalities and over 250 injuries. The worst impacts were from an F4 tornado or tornado family that killed 18 people and injured 225 in northeastern Louisiana and southern Arkansas, including 14 deaths in the devastation of Cotton Valley, Louisiana.
- 2010 – Tornadic activity occurred across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, and Mississippi, with 28 tornadoes resulting in nine deaths and numerous injuries. Five tornadoes were rated EF3, with the towns of Cincinnati, Arkansas; Fenton, Missouri; and Lake Petersburg, Illinois sustaining significant damage. Just after midnight on January 1, seven additional tornadoes struck Mississippi, including two rated EF3.
Did you know…
- ...that the 2013 Moore tornado that struck Moore and Newcastle, Oklahoma, is the most recent EF5 tornado?
- ...that the 2021 South Moravia tornado, an IF4 tornado with winds between 207–260 mph (333–418 km/h), was the strongest tornado to hit the Czech Republic in modern history?
General images -
-
A liquor store that was destroyed in the western part of Bowling Green, Kentucky. (from Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021) -
Aerial view of EF3 damage in Mayfield the day after the tornado (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado) -
Radar collage of a supercell that spawned a tornado family during the outbreak (from Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021) -
A multi-ton freight car that was thrown from the tracks in Barnsley (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado) -
High-end EF4 damage to a house in Bremen (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado) -
EF3 damage to businesses in downtown Dresden, Tennessee. (from Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021) -
Radar collage of a supercell that spawned a tornado family during the outbreak (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado)
-
High-end EF3 damage to homes in the Creekwood subdivision in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Numerous fatalities occurred in this area. (from Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021) -
Debris and destroyed homes along Alexander Street in Dawson Springs (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado) -
Low-end EF4 damage to a business in downtown Cayce (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado) -
A satellite view of the extratropical cyclone that was responsible for the tornado outbreak on December 11. (from Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021) -
Widespread destruction in a residential area of Dawson Springs (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado) -
Trees that were completely debarked and denuded near Buckeye, Arkansas. (from Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021) -
Major structural damage to a house near Hartford (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado) -
Radar 3D volume scan of the supercell showing debris lofted over 30,000 feet (9.1 km) in the air as the tornado struck Mayfield (from 2021 Western Kentucky tornado) -
Derecho moving across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa (from December 2021 Midwest derecho and tornado outbreak)
.jpg)
Featured Article or List -
The 2006 Westchester County tornado was the strongest and largest tornado in Westchester County, New York since the 1904 Chappaqua tornado. It touched down there on Wednesday, July 12, 2006, and traveled 13 miles (21 km) into southwestern Connecticut during a 33-minute span through two states. The tornado touched down at 3:30 p.m. EDT (19:30 UTC) on the shore of the Hudson River before becoming a waterspout and traveling 3 mi (5 km) across the river. Coming ashore, the tornado entered Westchester County and struck the town of Sleepy Hollow at F1 intensity. After passing through the town, it intensified into an F2 tornado and grew to almost a one-quarter mile (400 m) in diameter. The tornado continued through the county, damaging numerous structures, until it crossed into Connecticut at 4:01 p.m. EDT (20:01 UTC). Not long after entering the state, it dissipated in the town of Greenwich at 4:03 p.m. EDT (20:03 UTC). When the tornado entered Westchester County, it was the eighth known tornado to either touch down or enter the county since 1950.
Two barns and a warehouse were destroyed, and a large stained-glass window was shattered. Numerous homes and businesses were damaged and thousands of trees were uprooted. There were no fatalities and only six minor injuries were associated with the storm. The cost of damages was estimated at $12.1 million. (Full article...)
List of Featured articles and lists
|
|---|
Topics
Subcategories
Related WikiProjects
The scope of WikiProject Severe weather is to write articles about severe weather, namely thunderstorms and tornadoes. Their talk page is located here.
WikiProject Weather is the main hub for all articles that are weather-related. WikiProject Weather strives to improve articles in a variety of weather topics, including Tropical Cyclones, Severe Weather, General meteorology, Non-tropical Storms, Climate, Floods, Droughts and wildfires, Meteorological instruments and data, Meteorological Biographies, and Space Weather. If you would like to help, please visit the project talk page.
WikiProject Meteorology is a collaborative effort by dozens of Wikipedians to improve the quality of meteorology- and weather-related articles. If you would like to help, visit the project talk page, and see what needs doing. The project is currently being merged into WikiProject Weather.
WikiProject Tropical cyclones is a daughter project of WikiProject meteorology. The dozens of semi-active members and several full-time members focus on improving Wikipedia's coverage of tropical cyclones.
Wikipedia is a fully collaborative effort by volunteers. So if you see something you think you can improve, be bold and get to editing! We appreciate any help you can provide!
Things you can do
 |
Here are some tasks awaiting attention:
|
Wikimedia
The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:
-
Commons
Free media repository -
Wikibooks
Free textbooks and manuals -
Wikidata
Free knowledge base -
Wikinews
Free-content news -
Wikiquote
Collection of quotations -
Wikisource
Free-content library -
Wikiversity
Free learning tools -
Wikivoyage
Free travel guide -
Wiktionary
Dictionary and thesaurus
