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A violent whirling wind; specifically (Meteorol.), a tempest distinguished by a rapid whirling and slow progressive motion, usually accompaned with severe thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain, and commonly of short duration and small breadth; a small cyclone<-- twister -->.
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A violent whirl, generally cyclonic in sense, averaging about 100 miles in diameter and with an intense vertical current at the centre. Associated winds may attain speeds of about 200 knots. Heavy rain, and generally thunder and lightning, occur with the tornado. The term 'tornado' has also been used for thunderstorm squalls in West Africa.
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The most violent vortex storm on earth. Most commonly, tornados originate within a thunderstorm, although other processes can produce weaker tornados. Tornado strength can be classified on the Fujita scale of intensity which numbers from 0 to 5. F5 tornados are the most destructive known, with winds over 250 possible. F0 tornados are the weakest, though they can still produce significant damage.
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A violent, rotating column of air touching the ground; funnel cloud that touches the ground (see funnel cloud and waterspout).
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a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending to the thunderstorm base, often seen extending from near the wall cloud. It can be a few yards across to a mile wide.
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A wild, rotating column of air, usually attached to a cloud at the top and touching the ground. It nearly always starts off as a funnel cloud and may be accompanied by a loud roaring noise, like a train coming.
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A violently rotating column of air, reaching down from a cumulonimbus cloud and touching the ground. Generally observed as funnel-shaped, it is the most destructive of all storm-scale atmospheric phenomena. They occur only in certain areas of the world and are most frequent in the United States in an area bounded by the Rockies on the west and the Appalachians in the east.
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A whirlwind or mass of rotating air with high wind speeds at its center.
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A whirling wind over land, accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud. It is usually very violent and destructive in a narrow path, often for many miles.
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A rotating column of air usually accompanied by a funnel-shaped downward extension of a cumulonimbus cloud and having a vortex several hundred yards in diameter whirling destructively at speeds of up to 500 miles (800 kilometers) per hour. Tornadoes are complex interactions of temperature, pressure, and humidity.
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A violently rotating column of air, usually pendant to a cumulonimbus, with circulation reaching the ground. It nearly always starts as a funnel cloud and may be accompanied by a loud roaring noise. On a local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena. [Go to source
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A near-vertical, funnel-shaped cloud in which air rotates extremely rapidly around the axis of the funnel.
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extremely violent, localized storm with a characteristic funnel produced by extreme low pressure, enormous wind speeds, and debris circulating around it. Wind velocities can reach 200 miles per hour. They form as funnel clouds from thunderstorms and hurricanes.
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A violent storm characterized by strong swirling winds and updrafts; tornadoes form when a strong cold front pushes under a warm, moist air mass over the land.
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small, very intense wind vortex with extremely low air pressure in center
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A strong, rotating column of air that reaches the ground.
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a column of violently rotating air, spawned by a thunderstorm, which is connected from the thunderstorm cloud to the ground
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a column of violently rotating winds extending down from a thunderstorm cloud and
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a dangerous storm and should never be taken lightly
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a dark, funnel-shaped cloud containing violently rotating air that develops in climate conditions that, in the United States, are generally unique to the central and southern plains and the Gulf states
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a destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud extending down from a cumulonimbus cloud
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a fast rotating column of air extending from thunder clouds to the ground
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a funnel cloud on the ground
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a funnel-shaped cloud that descends on land, creating havoc and destruction in its wake
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a funnel-shaped cloud that touches the ground
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a funnel shaped column of air that rotates violently, extends from a thunderstorm, and touches the ground
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a funnel-shaped, rotating column of air that occurs when two air currents coming from opposite directions meet up
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a highly destructive, rapidly flowing funnel cloud that emerges from a violent thunderstorm and reaches to the ground
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a localised and violently destructive windstorm
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a localized, but extremely destructive whirlwind that descends from the base
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a local, short-term phenomenon that forms a funnel of air typically about a hundred meters across
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a narrow, funnel shaped column of spiral winds that extends downward from the cloud base and touches the ground
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a natural disaster resulting from a thunderstorm
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a natural storm disaster created when a front of hot, humid air and a front of cool, dry air collide in the atmosphere
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an example of clouds twisted to the shape of wind
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an extremely violent and destructive whirlwind
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an intense, rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm cloud to the ground
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a powerful rotating funnel of air
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a powerful storm which is created when moist, warm air gets trapped beneath a stable layer of cold, dry air within layer of warm, dry air
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a powerful, twisting wind storm, no wonder some people call them TWISTERS
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a powerful, twisting windstorm (now that really does sound like Dad
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a rapidly rotating column of air accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that causes great destruction
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a rapidly rotating column of air extending to the ground from a thunderstorm cloud
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a rapidly rotating column of air that descends from the base of a large cumulonimbus cloud (thunderstorm)
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a rapidly rotating column of air that extends downward from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground
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a rapidly rotating narrow air column extending from the updraught base of a Cb to the ground
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a rapidly rotating vortex or funnel of air extending from a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground
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a rapidly spinning column of air formed in severe thunderstorms
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a rapid rotating column of air that comes down from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground
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a relatively small, but extremely powerful vortex of winds in the shape of a funnel
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a rotating column of air rapidly whirling upward
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a rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm cloud to the ground
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a rotating funnel cloud that extents to the ground from a mass of dark clouds
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a rotating funnel of air that extends from a cloud to the ground that usually accompanies severe thunderstorms
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a small, powerful windstorm over land
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a spinning column of air called a vortex
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a spinning funnel of air
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a spiral that leaves a path of destruction in its wake
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a storm with very high winds that form a funnel cloud
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a strong wind in the shape of a funnel that destroys everything in its path as it hits the ground
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a structure of air in air
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a swirl of wind rising into a thunderstorm
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a terrible rotating column of air that touches the ground
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a very much more local and destructive storm of wind, often described as a 'whirlwind' or, in the USA, as a 'twister'
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a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land
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a violently destructive and localized windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground
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a violently rotating columnar vortex of air, pendant from a cumuliform cloud or underneath a cumuliform cloud, and often visible as a funnel cloud touching the ground or the sea
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a violently rotat in g column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the earth's surface
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a violently turning tube of air suspended from a thick cloud
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a violently twisting column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground
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a violent rotating column of air that reaches to the ground from a storm cloud in the shape of a condensation funnel created and maintained by strong inflowing winds
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a violent rotating column of wind that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground
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a violent spinning storm
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a violent storm with heavy rain in which the wind rotates or constantly changes direction
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a violent storm with whirling winds of tremendous speed
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a violent twisting whirlwind that forms at the bottom of a thunder cloud and then spirals its way down to the ground
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a violent, twisting windstorm
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a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel shaped cloud
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a violent windstorm formed atmospherically when a mass of cool air meets a layer of warm, moist air
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a vortex of air rising into a cloud
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a whirlwind of air that starts in a thundercloud
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a whirlwind produced by atmospheric conditions, mainly extremely low pressure, during a severe thunderstorm
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a wind spout spawned by severe thunderstorms or hurricanes
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a funnel-shaped, destructive column of air touching the ground; often called twisters for their constant rotation. Tornadoes can occur in all parts of Canada except in Arctic climates; they're most common in southern Ontario, which sees an average of 21 per season. Tornadoes are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the weakest (winds from 64 km-h); more than 90 per cent of all tornadoes that hit Canada fall in the weakest category.
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A rotating column of air, usually accompanied by a funnel-shaped downward extension of a cumulonimbus cloud, perhaps several hundred yards or more in diameter, whirling destructively at speeds sometimes in excess of 300 miles per hour. Also called a twister.
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rapidly spinning column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. Also called twister.
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A violent rotating column of air. Tornadoes are shaped like a funnel or tube extending from a cumulonimbus cloud.
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A dark column of air shaped like a funnel extending down.
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A funnel-shaped whirlwind which extends to the ground from storm clouds
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A funnel cloud which reaches the ground.
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A column of air that turns violently, and is in contact with a cloud and the surface of the earth.
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An intense, rotating column of air that protrudes from a cumulonimbus cloud in the shape of a funnel or a rope whose circulation is present on the ground.
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a violently rotating column of air, usually less than 100 m (300 ft) in diameter, surrounding a core of extremely low air pressure. Wind speeds may exceed 320 km/h (200 mph).
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A rapidly rotating column of air extending from a cumulonimbus cloud with a circulation that reaches the ground. However, the visible portion might not extend all the way to the ground.
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A violently rotating column of air, usually forming a pendant, from a thunderstorm with the circulation reaching the ground.
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A column or funnel of very rapidly rotating wind that forms at the base of a thunderstorm cloud.
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A violent, destructive storm with high-speed winds that whirl in a funnel-shaped dark cloud.
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A violently rotating column of air that is touching the ground. The visible cloud portion of a tornado may not extend all the way to the gound.
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A violently rotating column of air below the base of a thunderstorm, and in contact with the ground. A tornado does not require the visible presence of a condensation funnel cloud.
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A violent storm where various natural forces cause a strong circular wind that can reach over 300 miles per hour. Like some natural disasters, they are unpredictable and unpreventable, and they cause indiscriminate damage, so they tend to not cause a diminution in value to a particular property or neighborhood but rather impact a large region.
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A violently rotating column of air that forms at the bottom of a cloud and touches the ground
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A violently rotating column of air that is in contact with the ground. Tornadoes usually develop from severe thunderstorms and can produce winds of 100 to 300 mph.
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a type of cyclone that is a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground
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A violently rotating column of air in contact with and extending between a convective cloud and the surface of the earth. It is the most destructive of all storm-scale atmospheric phenomena. They can occur anywhere in the world given the right conditions, especially after the landfall of hurricanes.
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A violently rotating column of air associated with a thunderstorm that is in contact with the ground. Tornadoes are categorized as weak, strong or violent with winds of up to, or more than 300 mph.
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A violently rotating narrow column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm base. The tornado is most often found in the southwest quadrant of the storm, near the trailing edge of the cumulonimbus cloud. Tornadoes and funnel clouds are usually pendant from (1) wall clouds, or (2) directly from the thunderstorm base, within a few miles to the southwest of the precipitation shaft. The spinning motion of a tornado is most often left to right on the front side and right to left on the backside (counterclockwise). Tornadoes have been called twisters and cyclones, but these words are all synonyms for the most violent storm on earth, with estimated wind speeds up to 300 mph.
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a violently rotating column of air protruding from a cumulonimbus cloud and in contact with the ground; a condensation funnel does not need to reach to the ground for a tornado to be present
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A violently rotating column of air, extending from a towering cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud, in contact with the ground. see TornadoProject.com
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A violently rotating column of air that reaches from the base of a cloud to the ground.
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Violently rotating storm diameter; the most violent weather phenomenon. It is produced in a very severe thunderstorm and appears as a funnel cloud extending from the base of a cumulonimbus to the ground (in EM-DAT, « tornado » is a disaster subset of the disaster type « wind storm »).
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A localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground.
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A destructive and whirling wind of extreme violence which is accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud moving rapidly over land in a narrow path. The barometric pressure may drop so severly and rapidly that buildings actually explode from within.
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A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from the base of a thunderstorm. A condensation funnel does not need to reach to the ground for a tornado to be present; a debris cloud beneath a thunderstorm is all that is needed to confirm the presence of a tornado, even in the total absence of a condensation funnel.
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A violent, rotating column of air in contact with the ground, a pendant from a cumulonimbus cloud. -- Unstable Air-- Virga Precipitation falling from the base of a cloud and evaporating before it reaches the ground. -- Warm Front Warning Statement issued by tbe NWS when a particular hazard is "imminent" or already occurring (e.g., severe thunderstorm warning, winter storm warning).
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A violent rotating column of air, in contact with the ground, pendant from a cumulonimbus cloud. A tornado does not require the visible presence of a funnel cloud.
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A strong, rotating column of air extending from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground.
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A tornado appears as a violent funnel-shaped wind vortex in the lower atmosphere with upward spiralling winds of high speeds - spawned by severe thunderstorms. The tornado usually appears from a bulge in the base of a cumulonimbus cloud. It has a typical width of tens to hundreds of meters and a lifespan of minutes to hours. In area, it is one of the least extensive of all storms, but in violence, it is the world's most severe. More tornadoes occur in the United States than in any other country. In Canada, when they do occur, it is mainly in the Prairies and southern Ontario.
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A very intense circular windstorm born out of a thunderstorm. Wind speed may exceed 300 km/hr.
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(Twister) A violently rotating storm of small diameter; the most violent weather phenomenon. It is produced in a very severe thunderstorm and appears as a funnel cloud extending from the base of a Cumulonimbus to the ground.
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a powerful column of winds spiraling around a center of low atmospheric pressure
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A violently rotating column of air, shaped from a cumulonimbus cloud, and nearly always observed as 'funnel-shaped;' other names are cyclone and twister.
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A violently rotating funnel cloud of small diameter. A violent squall blowing out of thunderstorms and dust storms.
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is a type of cyclone which is violent, rotating, land-based and capable of causing great destruction
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A violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm. Tornado wind speeds range from 75mph to 300mph.
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A violently rotating column of air in contact with and extending between a convective cloud and the surface of the earth. It is the most destructive of all storm-scale atmospheric phenomena. They can occur anywhere in the world given the right conditions, but are most frequent in the United States in an area bounded by the Rockies on the west and the Appalachians in the east.
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A destructive vortex formed by extremely rapid rotation of air in and below the base of a Cb. The rate of spin reduces air pressure and causes condensation to form a funnel-shaped cloud extending down to the ground. Rotational speed may reach 300 knots, enough to destroy buildings along its track which may be less than 100 yards wide but can extend to a mile. Wide tornadoes sometimes contain several smaller 'suction vortices' rotating around the center. In the tiny town of Codell, Kansas, tornadoes hit on three consecutive years--1916, 1917, 1918--and each time on the SAME date: May 20! Though on a much smaller scale (F0 and maybe F1), Los Angeles and surrounding area has experienced more tornadoes than the Kansas City area over the past 20 years! Tornadoes once fought for this country too!....... During the War of 1812, more British troops were killed or injured by a monstrous tornado that roared through Washington D.C., than from all the firepower the American troops could muster trying to defend the city.
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vortex of rapidly moving air associated with some severe thunderstorms. Winds within the tornado funnel may exceed 500 kilometers per hour.
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A violent storm of whirling winds of high speed, over a narrow path often accompanied by a funnel shaped cloud.
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A local atmospheric storm, generally of short duration, formed by winds rotating at very high speeds, usually in a counter-clockwise direction. The vortex, up to several hundred yards wide, is visible to the observer as a whirlpool-like column of winds rotating about a hollow cavity or funnel. Winds may reach 300 miles per hour or higher (FEMA definition). See Natural Disaster.
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