Tornado

Background

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology to name a weather system with a low-pressure area in the center around which, from an observer looking down toward the surface of the Earth, winds blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern. Tornadoes come in many shapes and sizes, and they are often visible in the form of a condensation funnel originating from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud, with a cloud of rotating debris and dust beneath it. Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than 180 km/h (110 mph), are about 80 m (250 feet) across, and travel several kilometers (a few miles) before dissipating. The most extreme tornadoes can attain wind speeds of more than 480 km/h (300 mph), are more than 3 km (2 miles) in diameter, and stay on the ground for more than 100 km (dozens of miles).

Various types of tornadoes include the multiple vortex tornado, landspout, and waterspout. Waterspouts are characterized by a spiraling funnel-shaped wind current, connecting to a large cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud. They are generally classified as non-supercellular tornadoes that develop over bodies of water, but there is disagreement over whether to classify them as true tornadoes. These spiraling columns of air frequently develop in tropical areas close to the equator and are less common at high latitudes. Other tornado-like phenomena that exist in nature include the gustnado, dust devil, fire whirl, and steam devil.

Tornadoes occur most frequently in North America (particularly in central and southeastern regions of the United States colloquially known as Tornado Alley; the US and Canada have by far the most tornadoes of any countries in the world). Tornados also occur in South Africa, much of Europe (except Spain, most of the Alps, Balkans, and northern Scandinavia), western and eastern Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh and adjacent eastern India, Japan, Philippines, and southeastern South America (Uruguay and Argentina). Tornadoes can be detected before or as they occur through the use of pulse-Doppler radar by recognizing patterns in velocity and reflectivity data, such as hook echoes or debris balls, as well as through the efforts of storm spotters.

General Information

Name: Tornado, Rope, Dust Cloud, Wedge, Multiple Vortex, Stove Pipe, Cone, Spout

Origin: The Real World

Classification: Natural Disaster, Massive Wind Storm

Results: Varies on the scale, normally Tornadoes result in some damage within a town.

Overall Destruction: Local Destruction (Tornadoes vary in how much damage they produce, with the most violent ones causing automobiles to become airborne, rip homes to shreds, and turn broken glass and other debris into lethal missiles.

Codex Statistics

Tier: High 8-C to 8-B

Dimensionality: 3-D

Attack Potency: Large Building level to City Block level (Tornadoes vary in strength depending on the Enhanced Fujita Scale)

Durability: Unknown (Tornadoes are massives amount of wind with no real way to be attacked through conventional means)

Lifting Strength: Varies up to Class 10 (Stronger Tornadoes can casually throw around tractor trailers like toys and lift cars)

Travel Speed: Below Average Human to Superhuman (Tornadoes can slowly appearing nearly stationary to moving as fast as 60 mph)

Wind Speed: Superhuman (Tornadoes wind speeds can range from 65 mph all the way to 200 mph and higher)

Stamina: Low to Above Average (Tornadoes can last from several seconds to more then an hour)

Range: Several Meters to Hundreds of Kilometers (The longest damage path and duration of a tornado was with a path length of 151 to 235 mi (243 to 378 km))

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Powers and Techniques

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Air Manipulation (A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground), Psuedo-Invisibility (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)

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Notable Techniques

• Carrying Objects: Tornadoes can grow big enough to where they can carry entire objects like they're toys and throw them out.

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Other

Weaknesses: Tornadoes can stop within several seconds.