Fun Facts About Tornadoes for Kids
Tornadoes are one of the most fascinating and dangerous natural phenomena. They are often referred to as “twisters” and can be awe-inspiring, but they can also cause destruction and damage. Here are some fun facts about tornadoes that will help your children learn more about these powerful weather events.
1. Tornadoes don’t actually suck things up. Contrary to popular belief, tornadoes don’t suck things up. Instead, they create a swirling funnel that moves through the air at incredible speeds, picking up objects in its path.
2. Tornadoes can form anywhere in the world. While tornadoes are most commonly found in North America, they can form anywhere in the world where the conditions are right. Tornadoes have been reported on every continent except Antarctica.
3. Tornadoes can happen at any time of the year. While tornadoes are most common in the spring and summer months, they can happen at any time of year. In fact, the United States sees about 1,200 tornadoes annually.
4. Tornadoes can be extremely powerful. The strongest tornadoes, known as EF5 tornadoes, can have winds of over 200 miles per hour.
5. Tornadoes can vary in size. While tornadoes usually range from 100 to 500 yards wide, they can be as small as a few yards or as wide as two miles.
6. There is a scale for measuring tornadoes. The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF) is used to measure the strength of a tornado. It ranks tornadoes from EF0 to EF5, with EF5 being the most severe.
7. Tornadoes can cause animals to behave strangely. Animals can sense when a tornado is coming and may act oddly. For example, birds may fly away from the area or stop singing. Animals on the ground may act restless or agitated.
8. Tornadoes can create lightning. When a tornado is forming, it can create an electric charge that can lead to lightning. This is called “tornado-lightning.”
9. Tornadoes can form from hurricanes. When a hurricane makes landfall, its energy can create the conditions for tornadoes to form.
10. Tornadoes can create hail. When a tornado is forming, it can cause updrafts that can create hail. The hailstones can range in size from pea-sized to as large as grapefruits.