Name 


The word tornado comes from two Spanish words;
Tronado - meaning thunderstorm
and tornar meaning to turn.
Let's see what we can learn about Tornadoes !

Use the underlined sites to find the answers to the questions.
1. Look at the close up view of the tornado.
You need to move your cursor over picture # 1 to read the text to the right.
A tornado in this view is described as acting like a .....?

2. What are tornadoes?

 

3.  Read more about how tornadoes form here.
Before thunderstorms develop:

Rising air within the thunderstorm updraft tilts the rotating air

an 
2-6 miles wide, now extends through much of the storm.

4. Although tornadoes can happen at any time, the peak months for tornadoes in our state are:

5. Because of the unpredictable nature of a tornado you must be prepared ahead of time. Check the boxes of things you should have in your disaster kit.
(These are check boxes. You can have more than one correct answer.)
first aid kit  battery powered radio  can opener and canned food
bottled water  sturdy shoes and boots  flashlight

6. Predicting tornadoes uses some scientific tools. How do meteorologists know if a tornado is coming?

7. What is another way?

8. What is a tornado watch?

9. What is a tornado warning?

10. What states are commonly known as Tornado Alley?



 

11. Read what it says about: being alert to what is happening outside.  List three of the things that people describe when they tell about a tornado experience:

12. Read the myths or misconceptions about tornadoes.  Write about 2.

13. How are tornadoes rated?

14. List some damage from a F0 tornado

15. List some damage from a F4 tornado

16. In the top ten list of tornadoes, all ten were rated above what on the F Scale
( Fujita Scale)
  F 2    F 3    F 4

17. What was the largest number of people killed? 
      injured?

18. Look at the Storm Prediction Center site.  Here you can see data from the current day. Are there any watches or warnings today?
yes   no 
 

Tornado Safety Crossword Puzzle

Created by: Kathy Beck  Instructional Technology Coordinator  Updated: 8/2006
kbeck@iss.k12.nc.us
North Carolina Standard Course of Study Goals and Objectives:
 LEARNNC Computer Technology Skills, English/Language Arts, Information Skills, Science