Facts about Tornadoes

• A tornado may be in close proximity to sunshine, or it may be totally enshrouded in heavy rain.
• Sometimes the air before a twister hits is eerily calm; in other cases strong, gusty winds are followed by a tornado.
• Large hail and tornadoes can be produced by the same thunderstorm. However, many hailstorms are not accompanied by tornadoes, and vice versa.
• While many tornadoes move from a southwest direction, they can also travel from other directions such as west or northwest
• Twisters can take a variety of not only sizes but also shapes: from the traditional Wizard-of-Oz-like funnel, to snake-like "multiple vortices," from a drawn-out rope shape to a wide, churning, "smoky" appearance.
• The sound of a tornado has been likened to that of a freight train or a jet engine, but there is no guarantee that you will hear such a noise before it's too late.
• The United States has the highest incidence of tornadoes worldwide, with about 1,000 occurring every year.
• According to Stu Ostro, a Senior Weather Specialist at The Weather Channel, this is due to the unique geography that brings together polar air from Canada, tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico, and dry air from the Southwest to clash in the middle of the country, producing thunderstorms and the tornadoes they spawn.
• Tornadoes can come one at a time, or in clusters, and they can vary greatly in length, width, direction of travel, and speed. They can leave a path 50 yards wide or over a mile wide. They may touch down for only a matter of seconds, or remain in contact with the ground for over an hour.