As a child, I witnessed the cataclysm that happened nearthe city of Tampa.
I saw it from afar, but I remember this terrible ” twisting sleeve”.
I understood that it was a tornado.
And now I feel some majestic horror from this word.
And I have been interested in this phenomenon since then.
By the way, there is a feature film “Into the Storm” about this incident.
A tornado is a formidable natural phenomenon, sometimes even a solemn phenomenon.
The image of a tornado appears in many myths as an eschatological symbol.
How Usually Is Tornado Formed?
Usually, tornadoes are formed in the tropics, most often inthe Atlantic Ocean or in theEast Pacific Ocean.
It develops as a cyclone over the ocean when the surface of the water heats up to 25 degrees Celsius and above.
Rapid vortex flows are formed.
Due to the rotation of the Earth, these eddies begin their destructive movement to the west.
For example, from Africa towards America.
At first it is just a storm, but if the speed exceeds 119 km / h, it turns into a monster called a tornado.
What are some other names for this phenomenon?
- “Typhoon” (in Chinese means “big wind”)
- “Willy-Willy” in Australia
- “Cyclone” in the Indian Ocean
- Baguio in the Philippines
Does Florida Get Tornadoes?
Yes, Florida always gets Tornadoes.
And for the USA, tornadoes are a real problem.
The problem is that meteorologists are not yet able to accurately predict the origin of tornadoes and their trajectory.
Tornadoes occur quite often, but it is impossible to predict exactly where it will appear next time, and therefore you have to “chase” a tornado.
The mobile labs that are used in such chases are too fragile and are destroyed before they can reach the center of the tornado and begin to study it.
How to Escape From a Tornado?
As for Escaping from Tornadoes, Firstly, you can try to leave by car, try to move not from the thundercloud, but along it.
The diameter of the funnel rarely exceeds a kilometer, but it moves very quickly, so it is almost impossible to get away from it, but you can dodge to the side!
If you are in the house, then immediately close the doors and windows, avoid being on the top floor.
The roof for a tornado is a tidbit that she will not bypass.
The best place for protection is the basement.
It is there that it is best to wait out the bad weather, but before that it is necessary to turn off the gas and electricity – in order to avoid a fire.
Don’t leave the basement until the storm is over.
If your house is destroyed, call attention to yourself by shouting.
Do not lose your temper and remember, a tornado is a terrible phenomenon, but, fortunately, short-lived.
How Common are Tornadoes in Florida?
In Florida Tornadoes , thunderstorms are very common phenomena in southern Florida.
Typically, tornado season in Florida lasts from late July to early November.
And most often tornadoes hit the state in September.
Tornadoes and after Floods cause particularly large damage to cities in southern Florida, whose lands lie almost at sea level.
Snowfall has never been recorded in southern Florida, only in the north were isolated cases of very
short-term snowfalls, which also do not occur every year.
During the “Hurricane & Tornado Season” in the summer and fall, there is a constant risk of hurricanes and tornadoes.
Many visitors come to Florida in winter.
In winter, South Florida is one of the warmest places on the North American continent.
The average January temperatures there are approximately +18° to +21°C.
How Do Tornadoes Get Their Names?
In America, these deadly whirlwinds are given even elegant female names.
The tradition appeared thanks to the military.
They need to monitor the movement of especially destructive cyclones.
Between themselves, they agreed to give them the names of their wives.
In my opinion, a ridiculous tradition of course.
In 2005, a hurricane named Katrina hit the United States.
It was assigned the highest level of danger!
Worst of all was the state of Louisiana.
More than one and a half thousand died as a result of the impact of the elements.
But most of all I was shocked when I learned that the city of New Orleans had been destroyed.
This city was legendary.
It was said that jazz and blues were born here.
A real tragedy.
Where Do Tornadoes Occur in Florida?
The most terrible tornadoes are found off the coast of the United States at the Gulf of Mexico and also near the Caribbean Sea.
The Gulf of Mexico is a semi-enclosed water off the southeast coast of North America.
It is called a bay, although in reality it is a marginal sea.
The gulf communicates with the ocean through the narrow Strait of Florida, and the Yucatan Strait connects it with the Caribbean Sea.
Tornadoes in Florida usually occur at the end of summer, when hot air with huge masses of evaporated water rises, and the cold air that comes in its place over time due to the rotation of the Earth and the pressure difference begins to twist into a funnel.
Tornadoes occur only under the condition of a flat relief.
Signs of an Impending Tornado
If meteorological services have not warned the public about an impending cyclone that could potentially cause a hurricane, tornado, or you are away from civilization without communication with the outside world, you should know the main signs of impending danger:
– Increased wind speed (up to 20-30 meters per second)
– A sharp drop in atmospheric pressure
– Torrential rains, storm surge of water
– Heavy snowfall
– Accumulation of dark blue (almost black) thunderclouds on the horizon
What to Do Inside the Tornado?
If you find yourself inside a tornado funnel, if you are lifted into the air, do not resist, do not panic, it is too late to do anything, you are at the mercy of nature.
The best thing left for you is to take a deep breath and wait for a successful landing.
Huge masses of dust and dirt usually accumulate inside the vortex, which can harm your respiratory organs, up to suffocation, so hold on to the last and pray for a speedy return to Earth.
