Thesis: Hurricanes and tornadoes are both dangerous systems that have potential to cause destruction

I. Background A. Hurricanes 1. Different names B. Tornadoes 1. Tornado alley 2. Tornado drills II. Similarities A. Hurricanes 1. Wind 2. Categorized 3. Rain B. Tornadoes 1. Wind 2. Categorized 3. Rain III. Differences A. Tornadoes 1. Form on water 2. Named 3. Predicted early B. Hurricanes 1. Form on land 2. Predicted last minute IV. Differences A. Hurricanes 1. Can last for days B. Tornadoes 1. Last for couple minutes 2. Alerts

Hurricanes vs Tornadoes

Hurricanes and tornadoes are both dangerous systems that have potential to cause destruction. Many people confuse hurricanes and tornadoes and sometimes even think they are the same thing with different names. However, that is not true. They both share similar characteristics, but are completely different. Hurricanes are also known as cyclones, typhoons or tropical storms depending on where the storm started to form. Tropical storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean or Northeast Pacific, near the united states are called hurricanes. Those that form in the Northwest Pacific, near Japan are called typhoons and those that form in the South Pacific or Indian Oceans are called cyclones. Tornadoes form under certain weather conditions, when cold air and warm air meets which is normally in the fall and spring. The great plains in the United States are well known to tornadoes, in which earned their nickname “tornado alley.” Tornado drills are done throughout the United States every year. This helps everyone to practice on what to do in case of a tornado. During a tornado drill schools have kids go into the hallways and kneel with their hands covering their heads. Both hurricanes and tornadoes express their fury through high speeds of wind and rain. Due to what they can produce, both are strong enough to cause fatalities. They both also has air circulating in the middle called the eye. Hurricanes and tornadoes usually occur with low air pressure in a warm, moist environment. Both are also categorized according to wind speed and intensity of damage. There are also normally less hurricanes in a year than tornadoes. Hurricanes can produce heavy winds, floods, tornadoes, and lightning. Tornadoes usually produce very strong winds, heavy rain, large hail, and strong lightning. Despite their similarities, hurricanes and tornadoes have multiple differences. Hurricanes form over warm waters. Hurricanes can be up to several hundred miles wide and last up to three weeks. They weaken rapidly over cold water and land. The winds for a hurricane isn’t as strong as a tornado but can reach up to speeds of approximately 180 miles per hour. An average of about ten hurricanes produce a year, fortunately the weather man can predict and give warnings about a hurricane several days to weeks in advance. Each hurricane is given their own name and named alphabetically years in advance. Several names are rotated year after year, but if the storm have a severe impact on the population the name is then retired. Hurricanes usually weaken once on land and over water tends to make them stronger. Normally for a hurricane people stock upon can food, bread, and water. Flashlights are bought along with batteries and candles. Sometimes people evacuate and go to shelters during hurricanes. Since weathermen can’t give a warning of a tornado in as much advance as a hurricane, the only thing to do is take cover in a safe place last minute. If in a house take cover in a bathtub, bathroom, closet, inner room or if outside or in your car, take cover in a ditch. A mobile home is not safe because a tornado can pick it up easily and toss it. Tornadoes can do odd things such as destroy one house and leave the one beside it untouched. Tornadoes can pick up any object and toss them around such as houses, cars, and people. A tornado may appear transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms with a funnel. Tornadoes are often visible as a funnel cloud, but not always. At night tornadoes are pretty much invisible due to darkness, unless a flash of lightening shows it off.
Tornadoes normally travel a short distance, whereas hurricanes can travel from the southern United States up to the northern United States or Canada. Alerts used for tornadoes are tornado watches and tornado warnings. A tornado watch means there is a possibility of a tornado and to stay alerted. A tornado warning means there was a tornado spotted in the area or circulation seen on a radar and to take shelter immediately. Even a tornado warning does not give as much time. A tornado could hit within seconds of the given warning or no tornado could hit at all. As the years has gone on there has been other ways created to alert citizens about tornadoes besides the old school sound alarm in a town. Cellphones now have alarms that sound and alert people about tornadoes in their current location. Even the radio and television have alerts. To conclude, hurricanes and tornadoes has similarities but are different. Both storms need to be taken seriously. They are strong enough to cause fatalities and injuries. If each storm is not taken seriously then it could cause even more fatalities. Even though hurricane warnings are given in advance, some people do not take it serious or wait until the last minute. If there is a state of emergency or told to evacuate, then that should be taken into consideration because lives could be at stake. Hurricanes can also cause tornadoes. Although tornadoes are usually known last minute there are cautions that could be taken to protect yourself. Always remember, during both storms stay away from windows. A tornado picks up objects and tosses them, meanwhile hurricane winds could be strong enough to toss objects. Since hurricanes could last for days, many people stack up on can food, bread, water, flashlights and batteries. Normally after a hurricane things are flooded, power is out, and trees are down. The same thing happens after a tornado but unfortunately enough time is not given and anything needed will have to be done after the disaster. New technology is coming out and research is being done constantly to improve the alerts for hurricanes and tornadoes. Due to updated technology more lives are saved now, better than past years because of alerts and mobile technology. Always stay on the lowest level during both storms due to tornadoes. Tornadoes may seem more dangerous due to lack of notice but hurricanes can cause the same amount of damage.

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Jessica Outlaw 4/2/16