Tornadoes - Josh

Hey guys! I'm really enjoying my stay at this ranch in Kansas. It's lots of fun and good times here. Well that is, until the other day when we found out something big is going to happen. There is a supercell thunderstorm headed our way. Normally that's good because it replenishes the water supply, but this time it's different. The air has been very humid and warm recently. That makes perfect conditions for the Earth's most powerful storm, a tornado! These storms form at the front edges of cold, east moving air masses. Our warm air mixed with the front's cold air makes for head spinning results. There is an updraft and the air starts to spin into a mesocyclone. Then a funnel cloud drops down from the storm's cumulonimbus cloud. (To see an interactive graphic about how a tornado forms, click here). The pressure drops and wind speed can be anywhere from 100-300 mph. This massive column of cloud can last 10 minutes or a few hours. We always have the radio on the hear updates on the weather. The sky is darkening in the west, it means a coming storm. Some signs to watch for include: dark, often greenish sky, large hail, and a large dark low lying cloud (especially if rotating). I also hear a loud roar, like a freight train. We are preparing to take shelter in the basement. I'll write again soon, if i make it...

Josh