What causes tornadoes? Are tornadoes unique to N. America?

Question

What causes tornadoes? Are tornadoes unique to N. America?

Answer 1

cool air colliding with warm.

I'm not sure about the N. America question. I'll be back :).

edit: okay, someone else asked a similar q. on Y/A and the reply was that many other countries get them, we just get the most ( tornado alley).

http://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

J.D.- you're a t**d

Answer 2

Tornados are caused by a build up of pressure in the clouds, like, if the big storm clouds come together really quickly from different directions, not only do they cause thunder and lighting, but the wind makes a swirling effect causing the clouds to come down as tornados. The big Anvil shaped clouds are the ones that usually have tornados... sometimes from one way all you see is a big fluffly white cloud, but the other side of that cloud could quitely possibly be a storm or twister. Tornados are known to happen in all parts of the world where the weather changes... tornados are usually formed when a gust of hot air and a gust of cold air collide.

Answer 3

Thunderstorms develop in warm, moist air in advance of eastward-moving cold fronts. These thunderstorms often produce large hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. Tornadoes in the winter and early spring are often associated with strong, frontal systems that form in the Central States and move east. Occasionally, large outbreaks of tornadoes occur with this type of weather pattern. Several states may be affected by numerous severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

During the spring in the Central Plains, thunderstorms frequently develop along a "dryline," which separates very warm, moist air to the east from hot, dry air to the west. Tornado-producing thunderstorms may form as the dryline moves east during the afternoon hours.

Along the front range of the Rocky Mountains, in the Texas panhandle, and in the southern High Plains, thunderstorms frequently form as air near the ground flows "upslope" toward higher terrain. If other favorable conditions exist, these thunderstorms can produce tornadoes.

Tornadoes occasionally accompany tropical storms and hurricanes that move over land. Tornadoes are most common to the right and ahead of the path of the storm center as it comes onshore.

and no they are not unique to North America

Answer 4

manda79- he cant help it i think he is hit on the head too much with bread...

Answer 5

Big Guy,

Tornadoes are caused by the meeting of a high pressure system with a low pressure system, in which the heated air mixes with the cool, causing rotation. Tornadoes are not restricted to the USA, although they seem to be the most prevalent here. I have heard of several deadly outbreaks in Brazil, Argentina, and other locations throughout South America. In addition, countries in south-east Asia get them too, although they are often referred to as cyclones...

Tornadoes strike Bangladesh (right between India and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma) quite a bit. Being a third world country, many people die there every year as there are no reliable warning systems in place...I hope this helped in answering your question, good luck!

Answer 6

tornados are caused by the government to regulate the population of the north american trailer trash...it keeps them from infecting the wealthy