A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The word "tornado" comes from the Spanish or Portuguese verb tornar, meaning "to turn." The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of up to 300 mph. They can destroy large buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide to 50 miles long. In an average year, 1,000 tornadoes are reported nationwide.
Web Sites
- The Tornado Museum
- Twister
- National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- Tornado Preparedness and Response
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for tornadoes.
Databases
Enter tornadoes in these databases: