Why are tornados destructive?
1 Answer
May 23, 2016
They have the potential for higher winds than any other phenomena.
Explanation:
An extremely low pressure center in a tornado causes an unbelievably strong pressure gradient which gives rise to winds that can be over 300 mph. By contrast, a hurricane covers a much larger area and can have an equally low pressure but the gradient is not as strong as the low is not small. Typically the strongest hurricane winds are around 200 mph.
A 300 mpg wind is strong enough to pick up any debris and turn it into a very dangerous weapon. It is not uncommon to see regular straw driven into wooden structures.
Incidentally the highest sustained wind speed from a non-storm situation is in Antarctica were the katabatic winds can reach 199 mph.
