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Tornadoes: Facts, Myths, and Safety


Introduction:
While Omaha hasn't been hit by violent tornadoes
very often, it is important, nonetheless, to understand
how they develop and what you can do to keep yourself
safe. The purpose of this activity will be for you to
research tornado facts/myths and to be able to protect
yourself in the event Omaha should be hit again. If you
go to the following website, you can read and see
information about the last major tornado to hit Omaha on
May 6, 1975. http://www.weather.gov/oax/may675

Background Information:

Go to the following National Weather Service website to


answer the following:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/tstorms/tornado.html
1. What is the common definition for tornado?

2. Typically, how many tornadoes annually occur in the


U.S.?

3. During what months do most tornadoes occur?

4. Annually, how many tornadoes can be expected in


Nebraska?

5. What is a supercell thunderstorm?

6. Describe the relationship between supercells and


tornadoes.
7. What is wind shear? Describe the two types.

8. Describe the updrafts role in a supercell.

9. What is a mesocyclone?

10. T.V. meteorologists often talk about a hook echo on


radar. What are they talking about?

11. A tornado might be white, black, brown, or red.


Describe what would give a tornado each color.

12. What is the time range a tornado might last?

13. Some skinny tornadoes can do more damage than


wider ones. Describe what you may think is the cause.
Hint: Remember what you learned about spinning objects
in our physics unit.

14. What is the Enhanced Fujita(EF) Scale?

15. What is used to determine the severity of a tornado


on the EF scale?

16. After doing a search of your own, describe the


differences between a tornado watch and a tornado
warning.
Tornado Myths
Go to the following National Weather Service website,
read the page, and answer the following:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/twiste
d_tornado_myths.html
1. In the past, it was believed that if one were out in a
car, it was safe to take refuge under a bridge. Why isnt
that true?

2. Describe why it isnt true that tornadoes avoid cities.

3. When I was young, my dad said to open windows in


the house during a tornado warning. The idea was to
reduce the suction from a tornado and reduce damage.
What was the problem with that?

4. What would be a couple reasons a person couldnt see


a tornado coming?

5. Describe why you wouldnt necessarily be safe if a


tornado werent coming directly at you?
Tornado Safety
Go to the following National Weather Service website,
read the page, and do the following:
http://www.weather.gov/ctp/TornadoSafety
1. In at least two paragraphs of 5-6 sentences each,
describe the home where you live. Indicate how many
floors there are, whether there is a basement, where there
are windows, etc. In the event of a tornado warning,
where would you seek shelter and why would you go
there? What sorts of items might you keep in the shelter?

2. In the event of a tornado warning, what items, if any,


would you take with you to shelter? Be practical here.
Keep in mind, a fast-moving storm can be on top of your
home very quickly. You may not have time to take
anything.

3. You will be driving in a couple years. What would you


do if you were caught in severe weather? Rain can be so
heavy you cant see. Hail might smash out your windows.
A tornado might be bearing down on you. What would
you do?

By now, hopefully you have learned more about


how tornadoes form, myths, and safety. Going
forward, especially if you stay in Tornado Alley, this
is knowledge you can take with you wherever you
go. Knowledge and preparation are key. Always
keep an eye to the sky!

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