Tornadoes are nature's most
violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can
uproot trees and building and turn harmless objects into deadly missiles.
They can devastate a neighborhood in seconds.
The board was somehow aligned almost
perfectly in 120+ kt flow, with the vertical axis of the palm, and at exactly
the right time, to cause this oddity.
A tornado appears as a rotating,
funnel-shaped cloud that extends to the ground with whirling winds that can
reach 300 miles per hour.
Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles
long. Every state is at some risk from this hazard.
Historical records of severe
weather events across West Virginia record the following tornado incidents:
On May 2, 1929 a tornado swept through Morgantown.
The storm cleared a path about a quarter mile in width from the hills near
Dents Run through Riverside, Seneca, Walnut Hill, over the hill past the
country club. 2 injured.
Tornadoes again hit West Virginia on June 23, 1944 ...
one path was from near Wellsburg through southwest Pennsylvania to Preston
County, then to Deer Park, Maryland. A more southern storm was worse.
Its funnel hit the ground around 7PM just northwest of Shinnston near Wyatt
of Harrison County. Some eyewitnesses stated that at the time the
tornado crossed the West Fork River, that the water was actually drawn up
and the bottom of the river was visible. The tornado continued for 40
miles, up and down the hills, until dissipating on Cheat Mountain. The
course was right through the Pleasant Hill section of Shinnston and the
towns of Flemington, Simpson and just north of Philippi. 103 killed in
West Virginia. Likely an F-4!
A tornado hit Raleigh County are 11Pm on April 19, 1959.
The path was 1 mile long and 150 feet wide. 12 people were injured.
April 4, 1974 ... Part of a major outbreak in the Ohio
Valley. McDowell, Wyoming, Raleigh, Fayette, Summers and Greenbrier
counties between 4 and 5 AM. One, possibly two tornadoes. Path
was 65 miles. 1 child killed. 32 injured. Path rated from F-0 to
F-3.
June 3, 1980 ... Tornado in Monongalia and Preston
counties. Path was 24 miles in West Virginia and 5 in Maryland.
Affected Ridgedale, Reedsville and Kingwood. 15 injured. 28
homes destroyed. Rated F-3.
June 16, 1982 ... Tornado in Morgantown. One infant
killed when a tree fell on a mobile home. Rated F-0 to F-1.
From the Disaster Center
...
The
Disaster Center Risk of Tornado by State
"When we consider tornado risk we should not just consider
the likelihood of a tornado striking a particular State. We should also
consider the risks of death, injury and the costs of tornadoes for locations
based on the size of the State."
"Compared with other States, West Virginia ranks number 38
for frequency of Tornadoes, 35 for number of deaths, 35 for injuries and 39
for cost of damages. When we compare these statistics to other States by the
frequency per square mile, West Virginia ranks, number 39 for the frequency of
tornadoes, number 33 for fatalities, number 33 for injuries per area and
number 35 for costs per area. Based on data from 1950 - 1995."
Tornado
Facts
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A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending
from a thunderstorm to the ground.
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The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous
destruction with wind speed of 250 miles per hour or more.
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The average tornado moves from the southwest to
northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
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The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 miles per
hour, but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 miles per hour!
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Tornadoes can occur throughout the year; however, the
peak season in West Virginia is April through July.
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Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 2PM and 10PM,
but have been known to occur at any hour, day or night.
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Tornadoes can be classified into one of three types:
Weak Tornadoes [F0/F1] ... account for
more than 95% of all tornadoes in West Virginia; cause less than 5% of
tornado deaths; lifetime is usually from less than one minute to a few
minutes with a path length from 1/2 mile to 2 miles; wind speeds are less
than 113 mph.
Strong Tornadoes [F2/F3] ... account for
the remaining 5% of all tornadoes in West Virginia; cause nearly 30% of
all tornado deaths; may last 10 minutes or longer with a path length of
several miles; wind speeds are 113 to 206 mph.
Violent Tornadoes [F4/F5] ... are
extremely rare in West Virginia; cause 70% of all tornado deaths; may last
for one hour or more; wind speeds are greater than 206 mph.
Tornado Safety
Tips
Tornadoes can occur any time of
the year without warning, giving you little time to act. It is important
to know the basics of tornado safety so that you can survive, should a tornado
strike.
The National Weather Service uses
Doppler weather radars to sense the air movement within thunderstorms.
Early detection of increasing rotation aloft within a thunderstorm can allow
lifesaving warnings before the tornado forms. A TORNADO WATCH
means tornadoes are possible. A TORNADO WARNING means a
tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Tune into
one of the the following for weather information: radio, local
television, cable TV, Weather Channel, or a National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration [NOAA] Weather Radio.
Don't wait until the warning
alarms sound to begin planning how to respond. Take responsibility for
your safety and plan now. Because they are so infrequent in West
Virginia, is all the more reason to practice what you would do and where a
safe shelter is.
Have a plan. Meet with
household members to discuss how to respond to a tornado warning. Hold
tornado drills. Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at
the main switches.
When a tornado watch is issued,
review your plan. Don't wait for a warning to be issued.
When a tornado warning is issued ...
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The safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement.
f you have no basement or cellar, go to a small room [a bathroom or closet]
in the middle of the building. Once there, try to find something
sturdy you can crawl under. Getting underneath a work bench or heavy
table will protect you from flying debris and/or a collapsed roof.
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Be aware of emergency shelter plans in buildings and
schools where you and your family spend time. If a specified shelter
does not exist, move to the building's lowest level. Try to avoid
areas with large glass windows or wide, free-span roofs.
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Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to damage from
high winds. Residents -- even those who live in mobile homes with
tie-downs -- should seek safe shelter when a tornado threatens. Go to
a prearranged shelter when the weather turns bad. If you live in a
mobile home park, talk to management about the availability of a nearby
shelter. If no shelter is available, go outside and lie on the ground
in a ditch or depression. Cover your neck and head with your hands and
wait for the storm to pass. While waiting, be alert for flash floods
that often accompany tornadoes.
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Never try to outrun a tornado. A tornado can toss
cars and even large trucks around like toys. If you see a funnel cloud
or hear of a tornado warning for the area you're in, get out of your vehicle
and find safe shelter. If no shelter is around, lie down in a low area
using your hands to cover the back of your head and neck.
After the Tornado
