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This can last from a few minutes to more than an hour, and during that time a tornado often causes the most damage, and in rare cases can be more than 1.6 km (1 mile) across. The low pressured atmosphere at the base of the tornado is essential to the endurance of the system. [ 59 ]
Many other observational variants are recognized, including: volcanic lightning, which can occur during volcanic eruptions; "heat lightning", which can be seen from a great distance but not heard; dry lightning, which can cause forest fires; and ball lightning, which is rarely observed scientifically.
An EF0 tornado, the weakest category, damages trees but does not cause significant damage to structures. An EF5 tornado, the strongest category, rips buildings off their foundations and can deform large skyscrapers. The similar TORRO scale ranges from a T0 for extremely weak tornadoes to T11 for the most powerful known tornadoes. [76]
Excessive Lightning; Derecho; Extreme wind (70 mph or greater) Downpours; Heavy rain; Flood, flash flood, coastal flooding; Hail; High winds – 93 km/h(58 mph) or higher. Lightning; Thundersnow, Snowsquall; Tornado; Windstorm (gradient pressure induced) Severe thunderstorm (hailstorm, downburst: microbursts and macrobursts)
What causes a tornado? According to the NWS, a tornado is caused by many factors like warm moist air near the ground, cooler and dry air upwards, and a change in wind speed and direction with height.
Although heat waves do not cause as much economic damage as other types of severe weather, they are extremely dangerous to humans and animals: according to the United States National Weather Service, the average total number of heat-related fatalities each year is higher than the combined total fatalities for floods, tornadoes, lightning ...
Tornadoes are some of the most extreme weather events on Earth, and just like snowflakes, no two tornadoes are the same. No matter their shape or size, every type of twister can be dangerous, with ...
The 2015 Garland tornado causing a power flash on the left of the tornado on a highway. A power flash caused by a tornado hidden by heavy rain. A power flash is a flash of light caused by arcing electrical discharges from damaged electrical equipment, most often severed or arcing power lines.