Why do tornadoes form?
What conditions precede a tornado? Can this information be used to forecast a tornado?
Tornadoes form from supercell thunderstorms that have strong cyclonic winds.
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| Conditions for the development of a cyclone begin when a cold front meets a warm front forming a stationary front. | A low pressure center begins to develop with characteristic counterclockwise circulation. |
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| Warm air rises replacing the denser cold air. | Convective forces strengthen with increasing turbulence at high altitudes. |
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| A fully mature occluded front is associated wtih stronger winds and the development of a thunderstorm and a tornado. Eventually, the storm runs out of energy. | This diagram shows the relative movement of air currents during the mature phase of the storm. |
Maximum rainfall occurs with the beginning of occlusion. Draw the diagram above on your note sheet.
Images courtesy of NASA.