When Mother Nature flexes her muscles, she doesn’t hold back. Hurricanes and tornadoes are dramatic shows of force and power, each capable of creating a natural disaster.
Hurricanes and tornadoes are awe-inspiring, destructive. Unfortunately, they are also sometimes dangerously misunderstood. While these natural disasters share some similarities, they differ in how they form, behave, and cause damage. For Floridians, hurricanes are more frequent than tornadoes. However, recent hurricanes have brought a flurry of tornadoes along with them. SO understanding the differences could save lives and make you better prepared.
Prepare for a whirlwind (pun intended) tour of hurricanes and tornadoes as we clear the air on these meteorological monsters.
What is a Hurricane? Definition and Characteristics
A hurricane is a large, rotating storm system forming over warm ocean water. Think of it as nature’s blender, whipping together heat, moisture, and wind to create a swirling, chaotic vortex. Hurricanes are categorized in severity by wind speeds and potential destruction on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Some characteristics of a hurricane may include:
- Size: Hurricanes can stretch for hundreds of miles in diameter. For perspective, Hurricane Ian in 2022 had a wind field spanning 500 miles in every direction.
- Duration: Hurricanes can last for days or weeks, especially as they form in the ocean and head toward land.
- Wind speed: While hurricane winds can exceed 150 miles per hour.
- Travel speed: A hurricane system lumbers along around 10 to 20 miles per hour, giving Florida residents time to prepare (or panic).
What is a Tornado? The Definition and Characteristics
Tornadoes are like a hurricane’s sibling. They are smaller, quicker, and unpredictably intense. These storm systems are violent rotating columns of air, forming from thunderstorms and connected to the ground from a funnel cloud in the sky. They are ranked in severity by wind speed and damage caused with the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale. Tornadoes are ranked from EFU to EF5.
Some traits of a tornado may include:
- Size: The average tornado is less than a mile wide. However, in some cases, like the 2013 El Reno tornado, winds can reach 2.5 miles in diameter.
- Duration: Tornadoes are the sprinters of natural disasters, typically lasting minutes vs days or weeks like hurricanes. However, some rare ones can endure for over an hour.
- Wind Speed: Tornadoes are super-fast, clocking winds of 300 miles per hour or more. The EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, in 2011 hit speeds of over 200 miles per hour, causing catastrophic damage in minutes.
- Travel Speed: Tornadoes move on an average of about 30 MPH, although there have been reported tornadoes that travel much faster
How Hurricanes Form: Warm Ocean Waters and Large Systems
Hurricanes need specific conditions to form and thrive. For example, ocean temperatures must be at least 80°F to provide the energy a hurricane needs. Low wind pressure is also essential. A calm, stable atmosphere with warm ocean temperatures nurtures the storm. Finally, the Coriolis Effect causes the storm to spin, only working near the equator.
When these conditions align, the hurricane can develop. It begins as a tropical depression, intensifying as it adds moisture, heat, and windspeed.
Cooler waters, dry air, and wind shear can weaken the cyclone. Hurricanes will also weaken when they travel over land.
How Tornadoes Form: Supercells and Rotating Thunderstorms
Tornadoes are spontaneous, forming from supercell thunderstorms that create a rotating updraft known as a mesocyclone. Warm, moist air rises from the ground, meeting cool air in the atmosphere. The winds blow in opposite directions, creating a spinning effect that keeps the cyclone upright.
Unlike hurricanes, which are slow to form and more straightforward to track, tornadoes can materialize in minutes. This means there’s little time for meteorologists to issue warnings and little time to prepare.
The Differences Between Hurricanes and Tornadoes
- Size: Hurricanes can be hundreds of miles wide vs tornadoes that (typically) span less than a mile in diameter.
- Time: Hurricanes take days or weeks to form and hit vs tornadoes that can accumulate in minutes and cause significant destruction.
- Wind Speeds: Hurricane wind speeds can reach over 150 miles per hour, while tornado windspeeds are quick and relentless, 200 miles per hour or more.
- Formation: Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters, while tornadoes form from thunderstorms over land.
- Predictability: Hurricanes can be somewhat predictable, making them easier to track, while tornadoes often form without much warning, making them nearly impossible to monitor.
Comparing Damage Scales: Saffir-Simpson vs. Enhanced Fujita
The Saffir-Simpson Scale measures the intensity of hurricanes, especially during storm season in Florida. The system focuses on sustained wind speeds, ranking hurricanes from Category 1 (up to 95 miles per hour) to Category 5 (150 miles per hour or more).
The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF) measures the severity of potential tornadoes based on damage and windspeed after the disaster. EF-1 means windspeeds between 65 to 85 miles per hour, while EF-5 indicates windspeeds over 200 miles per hour.
Hurricanes can be destructive across large swaths of land and sea, but tornadoes pack a concentrated punch that obliterates everything in their path.
Types of Hurricane Damage
Wind Damage
Hurricanes have intense winds that can cause severe damage or even complete destruction to houses, infrastructure, vegetation, and more. These winds also pick up and throw debris, turning them into projectiles that can break glass and cause other damage.
Storm Surge and Flooding
This storm usually have storm surges (rising ocean waters sucked up and pushed inland) that cause powerful inundation and dangerous flooding. For example, Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage with surges over 27 feet.
They also bring extreme levels of rain, which can cause flooding as well. Slow-moving hurricane can flood Florida communities with 20 inches of rain or more.
Types of Tornado Damage
Tornadoes are smaller but quicker and can be even more deadly vs hurricanes. Their wind speeds are even higher, and they can cause structural damage, complete destruction of structures, and can launch tree limbs and debris at windows and doors. Strong tornados can also scar the ground, tearing up the earth and leaving visible craters that are challenging to fill.
Hurricanes vs. Tornadoes: Which is More Dangerous?
Comparing hurricanes to tornadoes is like comparing lions to sharks. Both are deadly in differing ways.
Hurricanes cause more damage and destruction overall due to their larger impact zones and storm surge. Although extreme, Hurricane Katrina claimed over 1,800 lives. Hurricane Ian in 2022 took over 160 lives and damages exceeded $112 billion in Florida.
However, tornadoes bring more concentrated destruction. Damage is quick and unpredictable.
Conclusion
Hurricanes and tornadoes are both dangerous, bringing different brands of devastation with relentless winds and significant damage. However, hurricanes are a pressing concern for Floridians, and one of the best ways to protect yourself and your home is with hurricane shutters.
Hurricane protection can help keep your home and family safe during hurricane season. Eurex Shutters provides the highest quality hurricane shutters and impact glass products available in the Southwest Floria area. Contact Eurex Shutters for more information or to start your project.
Or call (239) 369-8600 for immediate service.
Sources:
- https://sciencenotes.org/hurricane-vs-tornado-the-similarities-and-differences/
- https://gpm.nasa.gov/resources/faq/what-difference-between-tornado-and-hurricane
- https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/what-s-difference-between-hurricane-tornado-ncna1011676
