TORNADOES... natures most violent storms   Tornadoes are defined as violently rotating columns of air extending from a cumulonimbus or thunderstorm cloud. In their most extreme form, tornadoes can have wind speeds nearly 300 mph and grow up to a mile wide, giving them the power to cause widespread death and destruction. While they have been reported  in all 50 states and during any time of the day or year, they are most prevalent during the spring and early summer in the southern and central plains states, the mid-west, and the southeast.  Tornado Alley, which includes north central Texas, central Oklahoma,  and central Kansas, is so named because

A tornado touches down over the open desert at White Sands Missile   Range. The region comprised of southwestern New Mexico and far western Texas averages one tornado each year.

this portion of the United States experiences more tornadoes than any other area in the world.  The optimal atmospheric conditions for the more destructive tornadoes include an environment where the atmosphere is relatively warm and moist in the lower levels and cool aloft, with winds that markedly increase in speed and change direction with height. Weaker tornadoes can still develop however even if the wind speeds aloft are light, provided the air mass is very unstable. Surface boundaries and upper level disturbances can further increase the potential for strong and violent tornadoes.    While southwestern New Mexico and far western Texas are located far to the west of tornado alley, tornadoes are not as rare here as many people believe.        return to page 1

On May 22,  1987,  a violent tornado killed 30 people as it devastated the west Texas town of Saragosa. The threat of being struck by a strong or violent tornado increases significantly as one travels east of the Rocky Mountains.  (Courtesy of the Pecos Enterprise)  Page 7                                          continued on page 8