This is a tornado. KELO.com News photo by Kristi Golden.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.COM) – They’re neat to watch but you can’t help but be scared when they head for your house. All jokes aside, Sioux Falls and the KELO listening area has seen some pretty rough weather recently. Right up to this afternoon. So what exactly is a tornado? Well, we’re glad you asked.
A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris. Tornadoes can be among the most violent phenomena of all atmospheric storms we experience. Aside from downed power and internet cable lines, tornados also cause downed trees, damaged roofs, and blown-out windows.
Tornado season refers to the time of year the U.S. sees the most tornadoes. Here in the northern Plains and upper Midwest (North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota), tornado season is in June or July. It should be noted that tornadoes can happen at any time of year, as today’s tornado watches and warnings prove. They can also happen at any time of day or night, but most tornadoes occur between 4–9 p.m. For more information on them, click here.
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