Page 5 - Abacoa Community News - May '22

Abacoa, Page 5

GOverNmeNt

Northern Notes

Tornadoes
Be prepared, know what to look for. Check the weather
By Katie Roundtree, forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for tornadoes. Listen
Director of Finance and to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed
Administration, Northern about tornado watches and warnings. Watch the sky, since
Palm Beach County the skies that produce many of the thunderstorms that create
Improvement District tornadoes are known to have a dark, greenish color. Hail is
The recent tornado on a common occurrence in these types of storms as well.
April 2 in Palm Beach Create a communications plan. Have a family plan
Gardens, highlighted the that includes an emergency meeting place and related
fact that tornadoes can information. If you live in a mobile home, identify a nearby
strike anywhere at any time. safe building you can get to quickly, such as a church or
We have been fortunate not family member’s home. Pick a safe room in your home, such
to experience them often as an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
in this area; however, you cannot let your guard down. Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so
From an afternoon thundershower, to a hurricane or everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching.
tropical storm, severe weather can spawn a tornado if the Make sure all members of your family know where to go
conditions are right. when tornado warnings are issued. Don’t forget pets if time
About 1,200 tornadoes hit the United States every year, allows.
and every state is at risk. Tornadoes can strike in any season, What Is The Difference Between A Tornado Watch And
but most often occur in the spring and summer months. They A Tornado Warning Issued By The National Weather
are nature’s most violent storms, spawned from powerful Service?
thunderstorms. Tornadoes appear as a rotating, funnel-shaped Tornado watch: Be prepared! Tornadoes are possible in
cloud extending between a thunderstorm and the ground. and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency
Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while others may be plans and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to
hidden from view by rain or nearby low-hanging clouds. act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is
Winds in most of these storms blow at 100 mph or less, but approaching. Acting early helps to save lives! Watches are
in the most violent occurrences, wind speeds can reach 300 issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where
mph. These measurements are scientists’ best estimations. tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large,
Anemometers, which measure wind speed, cannot withstand covering numerous counties or even states.
the enormous force of tornadoes to record them. Tornadoes cold, dry air. The denser cold air is pushed over the warm Tornado warning: Take action! A tornado has been
can cause fatalities and devastate a community in seconds. air, usually producing thunderstorms. The warm air rises sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent
Damage paths from these weather events can exceed one through the colder air, causing an updraft. The updraft will danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on
mile wide and 50 miles long. begin to rotate if winds vary sharply in speed or direction. the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in
Using units F0 to F5, the Fujita scale measures a tornado’s As the rotating updraft, called a mesocycle, draws in more a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, move to the closest
intensity by analyzing the damage the twister has done and warm air from the moving thunderstorm, its rotation speed substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
then matching that to the wind speeds estimated to produce increases. Cool air fed by the jet stream, a strong band of wind Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings
comparable damage. The United States now uses the EF in the atmosphere, provides even more energy. Water droplets typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size
(Enhanced Fujita) scale, which takes more variables into from the mesocyclone’s moist air form a funnel cloud. The of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado
account when assigning wind speeds to a tornado. funnel continues to grow and eventually it descends from the
Tornadoes form when warm, humid air collides with cloud. When it touches the ground, it becomes a tornado. Northern Notes on page 6
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