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Tornadoes

All images courtesy NOAA, http://www.noaa.gov/tornadoes.html

<< 12/12 < The definition of a tornado means that the vortex of rapidly rotating air must be in contact with the ground. This means that to be a tornado, the swirling winds must be at the surface, capable of doing damage. If you see debris (dust and other objects swirling in the winds), it is definitely a tornado, even if there is no visible funnel cloud. If you can't see debris with a funnel cloud, then it might be a tornado but you can not be certain that it is (or is not). A tornado can move over a surface with few objects to be picked up and swirled about, or you may not be able to see all the way to the surface beneath a funnel cloud because of intervening hills, trees, or buildings. All funnel clouds should be treated as if they are tornadoes, unless you can be certain that they will not touch down...and being certain about such things is difficult. Even if the funnel is not in contact with the surface when you first see it, that situation can change quite rapidly!

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