Recipe for disaster
Warm, moist air has overspread the area from the Gulf of Mexico and when you step outside you can feel this muggy, oppressive, humid air.
It无毛视频檚 just late morning and as the temperature continues to climb, puffy cumulus clouds begin to show up and as the day progresses these clouds begin to tower into the atmosphere.
The forecast calls for scattered thundershowers later in the afternoon. The towering clouds are usually a sign that we will see some storm activity as the day moves along.
Higher in the atmosphere lies some cooler drier air that had its origin in Canada and is fighting with the warm moist air for dominance.
As the battle continues the warmer air continues to rise and becomes unstable. Air is now coming from different directions and this is known as wind shear. The clouds continue to grow and begin to look dark and menacing.
On the ground rain is falling, the wind is getting stronger, lightning is seen and you hear thunder; suddenly out of this thunderstorm a funnel cloud is formed and a tornado is born.
The favorite time for these storms is late afternoon and early evening. The rotating winds are what bring the devastation associated with these storms and although they are very small compared with hurricanes, the destruction can be catastrophic.
Tornadoes are assigned a scale starting from F-0 with winds of 50 to 72 miles per hour. F-3 tornadoes have winds between 158 to 206 mph, causing severe damage; roofs and walls are torn off homes, trucks and trains are overturned and automobiles are sent flying. F-5 storms produce incredible damage, destroying buildings and everything in their path.
June is the favored month for tornadoes in Pennsylvania and in recent years the numbers seem to be increasing, however better detection may be a factor. This improved detection has also been credited with saving lives as warnings are issued earlier, giving people time to get out of harm无毛视频檚 way.
Many people have their phones set up to provide warning for approaching storms. If at home, the basement is the safest place away from any windows and outside doors. A closet or bathroom without windows is another safe place. Mobile homes can be a problem especially if they are not secured and tied down. If time permits seek shelter in a sturdier structure.
Over 1,000 tornadoes occur in the United States each year. The average in Pennsylvania is just 15 although this year we are way ahead of that pace in the number of reported storms. Even here in the Southwestern part of the state this has been a very active year so far for tornadoes with over 15 reported.
In the middle part of our country between the western and eastern mountains is a place called 无毛视频淭ornado Alley无毛视频� where a large number of tornadoes are born. The alley consists of Texas along with Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.
These states all see over 100 tornadoes per year, and Oklahoma City is the most tornado prone large metro area. The states of Washington and Oregon have the least tornadoes with only two per year and nearby West Virginia with all its hills and mountains averages only three storms. Tornadoes like to form over level land areas and many times mountains interfere with the development of these storms.
Tornadoes are without question the ultimate manifestation of extreme weather. No other meteorological event is as violent or awe inspiring.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to review with your family what to do and where to seek shelter if some afternoon your area is visited by one of these monsters.