tornado
Sky's violent spiral
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, forming a distinctive funnel shape.
Tornadoes can destroy buildings, uproot trees, and hurl debris at deadly speeds.
The word extends to any similarly destructive force: She tore through the office like a tornado.
Tornado Alley refers to the central United States where tornadoes are most frequent.
Cone directing flow
- rotationTurning on an axis
- spiralCurve winding around center
- swirlRotating, curving movement
- twisterRotating destructive windstorm
whirlwind · cyclone · gyre · eddy · maelstrom · circulation · spin · suction
Rotating severe thunderstorm
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- severeExtremely harsh or strict
hail · lightning · downdraft · updraft · downburst · squall · waterspout · turbulence
Severe widespread destruction
- rubbleBroken building fragments
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- flattenedMade smooth or level
- uprootedRemoved from foundation
shattered · leveled · demolished · obliterated · debris · path · swath · damage
Prediction of future conditions
- predictionForecast of coming events
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
dryline · frontal · atmospheric · barometric · low-pressure · CAPE · NWS · model
Those still alive after
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- displacedShifted from proper location
- homelessWithout a dwelling
- emergencySerious sudden danger
rescue · recovery · relief · aid · rebuilding · insurance · FEMA · casualties
funnel
Cone directing flow
twister · whirlwind · cyclone · gyre · eddy · maelstrom · circulation · spin · suction · landspout
supercell
Rotating severe thunderstorm
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
severe · hail · lightning · downdraft · updraft · downburst · squall · waterspout · turbulence · outbreak
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
uprooted · shattered · leveled · demolished · obliterated · debris · path · swath · damage · impact
forecast
Prediction of future conditions
- predictionForecast of coming events
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
moisture · dryline · frontal · atmospheric · barometric · low-pressure · CAPE · NWS · model · conditions
survivors
Those still alive after
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- displacedShifted from proper location
- homelessWithout a dwelling
emergency · rescue · recovery · relief · aid · rebuilding · insurance · FEMA · casualties · fatalities
- eventsevent, events, party, parties, wedding
- natural phenomenaaurora, northern lights, southern lights, eclipse, solar eclipse
- naturesun, moon, sky, trees, water
- phenomenanorthern lights, eclipse, earthquake, solar eclipse, volcanic eruption
- weatherweather, rain, sun, snow, wind
- weather phenomenawind, hurricane, gust, blizzard, breeze
tornadocalm
Free from agitation
stillness · clear skies · fair weather · dead calm · windlessness
tornadostillness
Complete lack of motion
stagnation · motionlessness · inertia · quiescence · repose
tornadopeace
Freedom from disturbance
order · restoration · rebuilding · preservation · safety
- tornado warningImminent vortex notification
- tornado shelterProtected area during cyclones
- tornado watchRotating storm conditions possible
- tornado sirenEmergency weather warning device
- tornado seasonPeriod of frequent cyclones
- tornado alleyFunnel-prone geographic zone
tornadoes, tornados, tornadic, tornadolike, tornado warning, tornado shelters