Tornadeos

Myths are full of fantastic and destructive creatures.

If it's not a city-leveling angel, then it's giants sauntering vengefully into unsuspecting towns.

In reality, all the calamities we're liable to encounter are due to natural phenomena and human will.

But of all the destructive powers in our world, none resembles the ferocity and form of those mythic monsters quite like tornadoes.

But of all the destructive powers in our world, none resembles the ferocity and form of those mythic monsters quite like tornadoes.

These storms descend like a dagger from the clouds.

They tower over the tallest buildings like titans.

And when they lash out at their surroundings, they often seem to act with malicious, mindful intent.

­­Set asi­de fear and superstition, and you're still faced with one of the most awesome sights in the natural world.

These twisting storm columns can reach wind speeds of 318 mph (512 kp­h) and measure miles across, scarring the Earth and decimating homes and buildings in the process.

Yet, in some parts of th­e world, these powerful storms are a regular occurrence.

While most storms are weak and occur in sparsely populated areas, tornadoes have been known to hit large metropolitan areas, and they have inflicted heavy casualties on many towns and cities.

While most storms are weak and occur in sparsely populated areas, tornadoes have been known to hit large metropolitan areas, and they have inflicted heavy casualties on many towns and cities.

In 1925, the infamous U.S. tristate twister hit parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, claiming 695 lives.

­In this ar­ticle, we'll examine how a tornado's vortex works, take a close look at tornado formation and discuss the system we use to classify them.

If you've ever watched a whirlpool form in your bathtub or sink while draining the water, then you've witnessed the fundamentals of a tornado at work.

If you've ever watched a whirlpool form in your bathtub or sink while draining the water, then you've witnessed the fundamentals of a tornado at work.

At first, you'd find yourself accelerating toward the drain.

Because of your previous momentum and the number of other particles rushing toward the drain at the same time, chances are that you're going to be pushed off to one side of the point of suction when you arrive.

Eventually, there's enough spiraling energy to create a vortex.

This airflow pushes the low-pressure air up to higher altitudes, but then the air heats up and is pushed upward as well by all the air behind it.

It's kind of like when a rock concert erupts into a riot.

­Thunderstorms themselves form like many other clouds: A warm, moist air mass rises and cools, causing the water vapor to condense into clouds.

­Thunderstorms themselves form like many other clouds: A warm, moist air mass rises and cools, causing the water vapor to condense into clouds.

This energy increases the updraft temperature, as well as the kinetic energy of upward and downward air movement.

Some tornadoes consist of a single vortex, but other times multiple suction vortices revolve around a tornado's center.

If the vortex touches ground, the speed of the whirling wind (as well as the updraft and the pressure differences) can cause tremendous damage, tearing apart homes and flinging potentially lethal debris.

If the vortex touches ground, the speed of the whirling wind (as well as the updraft and the pressure differences) can cause tremendous damage, tearing apart homes and flinging potentially lethal debris.

If the vortex touches ground, the speed of the whirling wind (as well as the updraft and the pressure differences) can cause tremendous damage, tearing apart homes and flinging potentially lethal debris.

Smaller tornadoes may only thrive for a matter of minutes, covering less than a mile of ground.

At this point, you might be wondering just how tornadoes eventually dissipate.

Scientists still debate exactly how these deadly storms die, but one of the prime suspects is none other than the parent thunderstorm: the rotating mesocyclone.

Tornadoes need instability and rotation.

Disrupt the airflow, take away its moisture or destroy its unstable balance of hot and cold air, and it can't function.

Often, a tornado will die because the cold outflow of air from falling precipitation upsets the balance.

Unless you live in a downed spaceship, your house probably has enough venting to avoid explosion.

Moderate damage: Roofing materials and vinyl siding can be displaced; mobile homes are highly vulnerable and can easily be knocked from the foundation or toppled; motorists can be sent careening off road and possibly flipped over

Moderate damage: Roofing materials and vinyl siding can be displaced; mobile homes are highly vulnerable and can easily be knocked from the foundation or toppled; motorists can be sent careening off road and possibly flipped over

Considerable damage: Well-established trees are easily uprooted; mobile homes are decimated; entire roofs can be ripped off houses; train cars and trucking hauls are knocked over; small objects become dangerous missiles

Considerable damage: Well-established trees are easily uprooted; mobile homes are decimated; entire roofs can be ripped off houses; train cars and trucking hauls are knocked over; small objects become dangerous missiles

Severe damage: Forests are destroyed as a majority of trees are ripped from the ground; entire trains are derailed and knocked over; walls and roofs are torn from houses

Devastating damage: Houses and other small structures can be razed entirely; automobiles are propelled through the air

Incredible damage: Cars become projectiles as they are hurled through the air; entire houses are completely destroyed after being ripped from the foundation and sent tumbling into the distance; steel-reinforced concrete structures can be seriously damaged [source: NOAA]

Incredible damage: Cars become projectiles as they are hurled through the air; entire houses are completely destroyed after being ripped from the foundation and sent tumbling into the distance; steel-reinforced concrete structures can be seriously damaged [source: NOAA]

The new "EF" scale is similar to its predecessor.

An examination of the EF Scale reveals that 89 mph falls into the EF1 category, so the tornado is classified as an EF1.