Tornados vs. HurricanesTornados vs. Hurricanes

WHAT DO HURRICANES AND WHAT DO HURRICANES AND TORNADOES HAVE IN TORNADOES HAVE IN

COMMON?COMMON? Low Pressure Low Pressure Strong Winds Strong Winds Hazardous to Life and Hazardous to Life and

Property Property

HOW DO THEY DIFFER?HOW DO THEY DIFFER?

Location Location Size Size Duration Duration Season of Occurrence Season of Occurrence Distinctive HazardsDistinctive Hazards

WHEN DO THEY OCCUR?WHEN DO THEY OCCUR?

Hurricane season Hurricane season Late Summer and Fall Late Summer and Fall

Tornado seasonTornado seasonSpring and Early SummerSpring and Early Summer

Hurricanes form over warm (80 °F) Hurricanes form over warm (80 °F) tropical seas tropical seas

Latitude 7-15 degrees North and South of Latitude 7-15 degrees North and South of the equator the equator

Tornadoes form over land in the Tornadoes form over land in the mid-latitudes mid-latitudes

SIZE AND DURATION OF SIZE AND DURATION OF HURRICANESHURRICANES

HURRICANE DAMAGEHURRICANE DAMAGE

High winds High winds 75-125 mph75-125 mph

Torrential rains Torrential rains Flash floodsFlash floods

Storm surges as Storm surges as sea level rises sea level rises

HURRICANE CLASSIFICATIONSHURRICANE CLASSIFICATIONS

Category One -- Winds 74-95 mph Category One -- Winds 74-95 mph

Category Two -- Winds 96-110 mph Category Two -- Winds 96-110 mph

Category Three -- Winds 111-130 mphCategory Three -- Winds 111-130 mph

Category Four -- Winds 131-155 mph Category Four -- Winds 131-155 mph

Category Five -- Winds greater than Category Five -- Winds greater than 155 mph155 mph

LOCATION OF TORNADOESLOCATION OF TORNADOES

Most common in the United States Most common in the United States Plains States, Midwest, and Florida Plains States, Midwest, and Florida In advance of a cold front In advance of a cold front Embedded in hurricanes Embedded in hurricanes

SIZE AND DURATION OF SIZE AND DURATION OF TORNADOESTORNADOES

Narrow intense storm Narrow intense storm 1/4 mile wide 1/4 mile wide Path of 6 miles SW to NW Path of 6 miles SW to NW

Tornado HazardsTornado Hazards

Wind Speed 40 – Wind Speed 40 – 300 mph300 mph

Strong updraft in Strong updraft in the funnel the funnel

Explosions due Explosions due to pressure to pressure contrastcontrast

FFujita Pearson Tornado Scaleujita Pearson Tornado Scale

F-0:F-0: 40-72 mph, chimney damage, tree branches broken 40-72 mph, chimney damage, tree branches brokenF-1:F-1: 73-112 mph, mobile homes pushed off foundation 73-112 mph, mobile homes pushed off foundation or overturnedor overturnedF-2:F-2: 113-157 mph, considerable damage, mobile homes 113-157 mph, considerable damage, mobile homes demolished, trees uprooteddemolished, trees uprootedF-3:F-3: 158-205 mph, roofs and walls torn down, trains 158-205 mph, roofs and walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrownoverturned, cars thrownF-4:F-4: 207-260 mph, well-constructed walls leveled 207-260 mph, well-constructed walls leveledF-5:F-5: 261-318 mph, homes lifted off foundation and 261-318 mph, homes lifted off foundation and carried considerable distances, autos thrown as far as carried considerable distances, autos thrown as far as 100 meters100 meters