When and where do tornadoes form?
The U.S. tornado threat shifts from the Southeast in the cooler months of the year, toward the southern and central Plains in May and June, and the northern Plains and Midwest during early summer. Tornadoes can occur and have been reported in all fifty states!
What type of weather will make tornadoes form?
Tornadoes form when warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air. The denser cold air is pushed over the warm air, usually producing thunderstorms. The warm air rises through the colder air, causing an updraft. The updraft will begin to rotate if winds vary sharply in speed or direction.
What are the conditions for a tornado to form?
Conditions are ripe for tornadoes when the air becomes very unstable, with winds at different altitudes blowing in different directions or at different speeds—a condition called wind shear. The first result is a large thunderstorm. Inside the huge thundercloud, warm and humid air is rising, while cool air is falling, along with rain or hail.
How long does it take for a tornado to form?
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. A tornado is not always visible unless it forms a funnel made up of water droplets, dust, and debris. The average tornado travels 3.5 miles and can last from 10 seconds to more than an hour.
When does a tornado form in Tornado Alley?
In this area, known as Tornado Alley, storms are caused when dry cold air moving south from Canada meets warm moist air traveling north from the Gulf of Mexico. Tornadoes can form at any time of year, but most occur in the spring and summer months along with thunderstorms.
When do the most tornadoes occur in the United States?
Tornadoes can form at any time of year, but most occur in the spring and summer months along with thunderstorms. May and June are usually the peak months for tornadoes. Notice that the location with the highest number of thunderstorms does not match the location with the highest number of tornadoes.