Tornadoes     They have been observed on every Continent except Antarctica; however, a significant percentage of the World's
tornadoes occur in the United States. This is mostly due to the unique geography of the Country, which allows conditions which breed
strong, long-lived storms("supercells") to occur many times a year.   Other areas which commonly experience tornadoes are Australia,
South-Central Canada, Northwestern Europe, South-Central and Eastern Asia, East-Central South America, and Southern Africa.

United States    While 90% of tornadoes strike in the U.S. due to storms created by dry cool polar air from Canada meets with
warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico.  Tornadoes actually strike around the world.  About 800-1200 tornadoes occur in the U.S. each
year although mostly occur in uninhabited areas.  A large proportion of U.S. tornadoes strike in an area known as Tornado Alley, which
stretches from Northwest Texas, across Oklahoma and Kansas.

 |Severe Now|    |Forcasted|     |Radar Now|     |Satellite Now|   |Surface|     |Upper Level|   |Reports|
 Text Warnings   Tornado day1   NWS  R             Nasa/Goes         Dew Points   Mesocyclone     Tornado

 Warning Map1   Hail day1         Intellicast  R       Vis/SSEC          Winds           1Km Helicity     Statistic   

 Warning Map2   Winds day1     Underground  R   Infared/SSEC     Temperature  Jet Stream        Past

 Mesocyclone     Severe day2    Accuweather  R   WV/SSEC          Analysis        Unstable Cap               














Canada    Also experiences numerous tornadoes, although fewer than the United States.  In Canada, at least 80 -100 tornadoes
occur annually (with many more likely undetected in large expanses of unpopulated areas).  Most are weak F0 or F1 in intensity, and
on average a few F2 or stronger that touchdown each season.

Bangladesh    After the United States and Canada, Bangladesh and East India probably get some of the most violent tornadoes
they certainly suffer the deadliest. On April 26, 1989, the most lethal tornado on record swept Bangladesh, killing about 1,300 people,
injuring 12,000, and leaving 80,000 homeless. High population density, flimsy housing, and a nonexistent tornado warning system mean
killer tornadoes are all too common there.

United Kingdom    Experiences more than 30 tornadoes a year, which per unit area compares with the Great Plains. But as
in Florida, they're sired by nonsupercell storms and thus pack a much softer punch.

Japan     Data from 1961 to 1993, which is believed to be most reliable at present, compiled after an extensive survey of apparently
almost all existing literature. Six hundred and seventy-seven tornadoes and 148 waterspouts were cataloged in the database, which is
operated on a personal computer basis.  Various statistical characteristics of tornadoes and waterspouts was examined:On average 20
tornadoes and 4.5 waterspouts occur per year in Japan.  Tornadoes occur most frequently in September and least frequently in March. 
Waterspouts occur most frequently in October.

New Zealand  Thunderstorms are not numerous. Their frequency is greatest in the north and western side of the country, where
thunder is heard on 15 to 20 days a year. On the east coast of the South Island the average is commonly less than 5.  Tornadoes show
a similar pattern to thunderstorms, apart from a maximum in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. On an average of about 20 tornadoes and
water-spouts is reported each year, but most of these are small.

Austria   Tornadoes seldom form in the alpine areas, but near the eastern flanks of the Alps were favourable conditions for tornado
genesis are found. Whereas in the alpine regions less than 0.3 tornadoes per 10000 km˛ and year touch down (averaged for provinces
or major parts of a province), we can count 0.9 in the greater Graz area, 1.0 in the greater Linz area and 1.2 tornadoes per 10000 km˛
a year in the greater Vienna area, suggesting the existence of so called tornado alleys. The overall average for Austria is 0,3 tornadoes
per 10000 km˛ and year. The seasonal peak is in July with a maximum probability of tornadoes in the late afternoon and early evening.
Every fifth tornado occurs in the hour after 5 p.m. The maximum intensity determined for a tornado in Austria was T-7 on the TORRO-
Scale (F3 on the Fujita-Scale), the most common intensity is T2 on the TORRO-Scale (F1 on the Fujita-Scale).

Australia   The region north of Melbourne, situated between Daylesford and Bendigo and westward to Maryborough ,has bred
monster supercells and large destructive tornadoes officially recorded up to F3 by the Weather Bureau.  Severe thunderstorms show
marked diurnal and seasonal distributions with maxima in the warmer months and during the late evening.  Distributions are similar to
those in the United States. The peak months for large and giant hail, tornadoes, strong winds and flash floods differ, being respectively
November, December, January and February.

Tornado Alley   Is a nickname for an area that consistently experiences a high frequency of tornadoes each year. The area
that has the most strong and violent tornadoes includes Eastern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma. Northern Texas, and
Eastern Colorado. The relatively flat land in the Great Plains allows cold dry polar air from Canada to meet warm moist tropical air from
the Gulf of Mexico.  A large number of tornadoes form when these two air masses meet, along a phenomenon known as a "dryline." 
The dryline is a boundary separating hot, dry air to the west from warm, moist air to the east.  You can see it on a weather map by
looking for sharp changes in dew point temperatures.  Between adjacent weather stations the differences in dew point can vary by as
much as 40 degrees or more. The dryline is usually found along the western high plains.  Air moving down the eastern slopes of the
Rockies warms and dries as it sinks onto the plains, creating a hot, dry, cloud-free zone.  During the day, it moves eastward mixing up
the warm moist air ahead of it.  If there is enough moisture and instability in the warm air, severe storms can form - because the dryline
is the "push" the air needs to start moving up! During the evening, the dryline "retreats" and drifts back to the west. The next day the
cycle can start all over again, until a larger weather system pushes through and washes it away.

Tornado Season   Usually refers to the time of year where the United States sees the most tornadoes. The peak season or
“tornado season” for the southern plains often referred to as Tornado Alley is during May into early June. On the Gulf coast, it is earlier
during the spring. In the northern plains and upper Midwest, tornado season is in June or July. But, remember, tornadoes can happen at
any time of year. Tornadoes can also happen at any time of day, but most tornadoes occur between 4-9 p.m.

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