Which is worse and does the most damage,a hurricane or a tornado? why do you think so?

Question

im doing a debate tomorrow. im playing the role of a tornado expert,and i have to state why i think a tornado is worse. can you help me please???

Answer 1

Both of the prior Answerers are somewhat nuts with misinformation (hurricanes turn into tornadoes on land???????????????????????).

A hurricane will do far more damage than a tornado of the same intensity simply because (1) the path of destructive winds is much, much wider (50 or so miles - 80 km - or more in a hurricane; rarely more than 100 yards or meters for a tornado) and will last longer over land before disappating (a category 5 hurricane may last 12-18 hours before its winds diminish below hurricane strength but a F5 tornado rarely lasts more than a half hour). Hurricanes also often carry along a storm surge of water that can be 10-15 feet high.

But I have been in 7 hurricanes and seen 2 tornadoes and I can vouch that unless you are on the coast in the path of a storm surge a tornado is sure scarier.

Answer 2

You're trying to compare a laser beam to a shotgun blast.

A tornado had higher winds than a hurricane, but is very narrow. An F0 could be 100 ft wide and and F5 could be a mile wide.

A hurricane is huge with a wind field, 40 MPH or higher, that can stretch up to 200 miles. So they have the ability to do damage over a larger area.

But don't think of hurricanes as just a wind event. Flooding from hurricanes cause more damage, and deaths, than wind.

So, in my opinion, while tornadoes are sudden and terrifying, hurricanes are worse.

Answer 3

Well, to actually debate which is worse, you'd have to know which class of hurricane or tornado you were dealing with, such as force 1 through 5, being that both have different wind speeds associated with their ability to do damage or harm. I do know that a force 5 tornado can cause a piece of straw to penetrate a telephone pole, just like a bullet. The worst tornadoes in North America have had wind speeds of over 300 mph. Tornadoes are more area specific in their damage, while hurricanes can cause damage over a vast area of land. Hurricanes tend to last longer than tornadoes, and can damage structures not only with wind speed, but also with water.

Answer 4

I think tornadoes are stronger as their wind speeds are faster and can easily destroy anything. Hurricanes do more damage however because they are more long lasting. Hurricanes constantly pound the land, but a tornado can die in minutes without touching anyone.
If I were you I would argue at tornado is worse because of its unpredictability. You could say that in this day and age people know hurricanes are coming and get ready for them, but against a tornado their is little or no warning. I would compare a tornado to being a stealthy ninja that destroys while people sleep. I would then compare a hurricane to a giant tank televising its coming.

Answer 5

Consider the size and energy involved.
Hurricanes have by far the greatest energy involvement. The size of the storms attest to that.
Their highest wind velocities can approach those of the much smaller tornadoes and hurricanes cover a far greater area.
If considered from the viewpoint of the monetary costs of the damages created, hurricanes win!
The actual wind velocity of a tornado is usually higher and if you are unfortunate enough to be hit directly by one, you are far more likely to be killed.
Tornadoes have the additional disadvantage of being less predictable so receiving warning well in advance is nearly impossible.
You have less time to seek shelter.
That disadvantage is more likely to result in severe injury and death for those few who do become victims of a tornado.
If your home receives a direct hit, the damage to that structure will likely be more severe.

Answer 6

hurricanes are worse tornados are wind hurricanes are wind water flooding and can cause more damage

on the other hand tornados are way more common cause the highest about of damage cause hurricanes don't affect alot of the us however tornados affect most of the US

Answer 7

they are both natural disasters so they can both cause the same amout of damage. The only way a tornado would not be as bad is if it were a fairly small one like an F0 or an F1.

Answer 8

i think hurricanes are worse because they turn into tornadoes once they have been on land.