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A tornado is a violent storm that creates a
rotating column of air that spins at
tremendous speed.
Often it will rain, hail and produce a great,
roaring sound at the same time. When a
tornado touches the ground, it can cause a
path of damage up to 50 miles long. Most
tornadoes last less than 10 minutes.
On a hot day, ground
temperature increases
and starts to rise.
Go into a ___________ or
a below-ground shelter.
Shelter in an inside closet or bath. Cover
yourself with a _____________ or blankets
as protection from flying debris.
If you're in a car, get out. Lie in a ditch and
cover your head with your ________.
After it has passed, watch out for downed
power lines, broken glass and _________
structures.
If you are inside a building,
crouch down and cover your
________ with your hands. Stay
away from walls and __________.
When the warm air from
the ground meets a dark
thundercloud, it creates
an updraft.
A storm forms quickly,
bringing rain, hail,
thunder and lightning.
The updraft meets a cold
downdraft and begins to
spin. A cone shape
becomes visible.
The rotating air forms a
vertical funnel. It sucks
in warm air, making it
spin faster. When it
reaches close to the
ground, it is a tornado.
Tornado comes from the Spanish word
tronada meaning thunderstorm.
Tornadoes rotate counterclockwise in
the northern hemisphere and clockwise
in the southern hemisphere.
Winds on the outside of a tornado
can reach 250 mph.
The United States has about 1,200
tornadoes each year.
Do the math. If the statement has an
even-numbered answer, it's TRUE. Odd
numbered answers are FALSE.
Standards Link: Science: Students understand atmospheric processes that cause weather.
Standards Link: Health: Know concepts and practices
concerning injury prevention and safety.
Replace
the missing
words.
www.kidscoop.com © Vicki Whiting June/July 2020
Official Kids Mag
