A tornado is a violent windstorm usually characterized by a twisting, funnel shaped cloud that is caused by a thunderstorm or a hurricane. It is produced when a cool air mass meets a warm air mass and forces the warm air mass to rise over the cool air mass very rapidly. Most of the damage from a tornado is a result of high wind velocity and wind blown debris. Most tornadoes occur during the months …showed first 75 words of 615 total…

…showed last 75 words of 615 total…ones. Tornadoes produce the most violent winds in the world. Tornado winds can be as high as 300 miles per hour, travel distances over 100 miles and reach heights of over 60,000 feet above the ground. In 1988 121 tornadoes struck 15 south central states. This resulted in 14 deaths and damages reaching $108 million.  Bibliography The following resources were used to do this project Federal Emergency Managment Agency (FEMA) Miami Institute of Hurricanes Encarta ‘95 Funk and Wagnalls New Encylopedia American Red Cross