I'm in the SW, we don't have them. Or, at least they never touch down.
2007-08-10 20:14:58 · 5 answers · asked by mkt 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Only partly; it's mainly because that is where cool, dry air from the jet stream rides over hot moist air rising from the ground mix generating thunderstorms. Storms are really gigantic heat engines powered by hot air and tornadoes are concentrated vortices of this rising heat. The plains states of the U.S. generate so many tornadoes due to the perfect geographic positioning of mountains, wind direction, strong cold air currents at high altitudes and rising updrafts of hot air from the sun-baked plains.
2007-08-10 20:37:26 · answer #1 · answered by bulruq 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No! It's is because the dry polar air from Canada meets the warm moist tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico. Tornado's are caused by a layer of warm moist air that is trapped under a layer of cooler dry air. Then the moist dry air is pushed up either by heating from the ground or from an influx of cold air. This causes the moist warm air to rise which causes clouds and thunderstorms. If the conditions are right the rapidly rising air spins around a central funnel causing a tornado. They are most prevelant in spring, but have been known to happen during other times of the year as well.
2007-08-11 03:30:40 · answer #2 · answered by Kristi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tornadoes are not caused by elevation but by two opposing air masses going to towards eachother. This is why tornadoes are more common in the Great Plains because you get warm moist air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico & Cold dry air coming down from Central Canada.
2007-08-11 07:38:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tornado alley is a region of the US that often sees a convergence of conditions right for tornadic outbreaks. MAYBE flatness is a factor, but BIGGER factors are the warm/moist air flowing northward out of the gulf of mexico and the cold fronts coming down from canada and the formation of dry lines in west texas moving east.
Tornado outbreaks are all about ingredients being mixed just right and texas, oklahoma, kansas, nebraska, and the dakotas often see it all come together.
2007-08-11 04:59:49 · answer #4 · answered by Just_One_Man's_Opinion 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tornadoes can happen anywhere at anytime day or night but they are more common in the central US than any other part of the country.
Google "Tornado Ally"
2007-08-11 03:22:36 · answer #5 · answered by Biff 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋