Comments on: Why does the Midwest have tornadoes but California does not? http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:02:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: cyswxman http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm/comment-page-1#comment-544 cyswxman Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:27:35 +0000 http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm#comment-544 The conditions that are most favorable for tornadic development include unstable warm and moist air co-located in an area of strong wind shear (wind changing speed and/or direction as altitude increases). The unstable warm and moist air can lead to strong to severe thunderstorms, and if the wind shear is right, tornadoes can form within the storms. The plains of the US see these conditions more often than the western US, including California. The mountainous terrain of the west tends to disrupt low level shear and the instability (the tendency for air to rise) is typically less than over the plains. The conditions that are most favorable for tornadic development include unstable warm and moist air co-located in an area of strong wind shear (wind changing speed and/or direction as altitude increases). The unstable warm and moist air can lead to strong to severe thunderstorms, and if the wind shear is right, tornadoes can form within the storms. The plains of the US see these conditions more often than the western US, including California. The mountainous terrain of the west tends to disrupt low level shear and the instability (the tendency for air to rise) is typically less than over the plains.

]]> By: mrw0113 http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm/comment-page-1#comment-545 mrw0113 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:27:35 +0000 http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm#comment-545 Tornadoes occur in all 50 states, and on every inhabited continent. So, your question itself is incorrect. In fact, a tornado occurred on January 24, 2008 (5 days ago) in Ventura County near Point Mugu Naval Air Station. Had your daughter known better, she might have asked "Why are tornadoes more common in the Midwest than in California?" The Midwest has the right combination of geography and climate to create large, strong storms, whereas California has a different geography and climate that makes large, strong storms harder to form. Tornadoes occur in all 50 states, and on every inhabited continent. So, your question itself is incorrect.

In fact, a tornado occurred on January 24, 2008 (5 days ago) in Ventura County near Point Mugu Naval Air Station.

Had your daughter known better, she might have asked "Why are tornadoes more common in the Midwest than in California?"

The Midwest has the right combination of geography and climate to create large, strong storms, whereas California has a different geography and climate that makes large, strong storms harder to form.

]]> By: tornadoman1955 http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm/comment-page-1#comment-546 tornadoman1955 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:27:35 +0000 http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm#comment-546 correct yourself there was a small tornado in southern cali near visala did some damage knocking over power poles and trees it was confirmed ...,this happened sunday jan 24..thankfully noone got hurt..... correct yourself there was a small tornado in southern cali near visala did some damage knocking over power poles and trees it was confirmed …,this happened sunday jan 24..thankfully noone got hurt…..

]]> By: Freight_Train http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm/comment-page-1#comment-547 Freight_Train Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:27:35 +0000 http://tornadoquestions.com/why-does-the-midwest-have-tornadoes-but-california-does-not.htm#comment-547 All of the answers are correct in that tornados do happen in all 50 states. They are also correct that tornados occure in other places around the world. They are the most common in the meid west because of the warm moist air that come from the Gulf of Mexico that colides with cool dry air from the north. What the other posts did not mention are the links to show the resources Here is an excelent link that is constantly being updated. The Tornado History Project http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/ Other Resources about tornados. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/tstorms/tstorms_intro.htm http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/tstorms/tornado.htm http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/faq/faq_tor.php http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tornado/wtfaq.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00758/en/disaster/tornado.html http://www.hubbard.lib.oh.us/tornado/tornado_faqs.htm http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/ http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/hazard/ map of peak tornado season http://www.erh.noaa.gov/cae/svrwx/when.htm All of the answers are correct in that tornados do happen in all 50 states.
They are also correct that tornados occure in other places around the world.
They are the most common in the meid west because of the warm moist air that come from the Gulf of Mexico that colides with cool dry air from the north.

What the other posts did not mention are the links to show the resources
Here is an excelent link that is constantly being updated.
The Tornado History Project
http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/
Other Resources about tornados.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/tstorms/tstorms_intro.htm
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/tstorms/tornado.htm
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/faq/faq_tor.php
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tornado/wtfaq.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00758/en/disaster/tornado.html
http://www.hubbard.lib.oh.us/tornado/tornado_faqs.htm
http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/hazard/
map of peak tornado season
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/cae/svrwx/when.htm

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