Is the word "Tornado" used incorrectly in Houston? (Howe: live, assess)

[Dopo]

Is the word "Tornado" used incorrectly in Houston?

I lived for a long time in Missouri and Kansas and over there a tornado means "a rotating column of air that goes from the grown all the way to the clouds"

In Houston, seems like everytime there's a storm and somebody's trampoline goes flying, people say that it was a tornado.

[mikeyyc]

The definition of a tornado is set by the National Weather Service, and when there is extreme localized wind damage, they assess whether or not that was caused by normal storm winds or a tornado.

[979Texan]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Is the word "Tornado" used incorrectly in Houston?

I lived for a long time in Missouri and Kansas and over there a tornado means "a rotating column of air that goes from the grown all the way to the clouds"

In Houston, seems like everytime there's a storm and somebody's trampoline goes flying, people say that it was a tornado.

I have no clue what this thread is about. But it is pretty clear to me Dopo uses the Internet incorrectly.

[naadarien]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

The definition of a tornado is set by the National Weather Service, and when there is extreme localized wind damage, they assess whether or not that was caused by normal storm winds or a tornado.

I thought it was NOAA (as opposed to NWS), but either way...yes. No matter what anyone says, damage is assessed. It is pure science about how fast a wind must be blowing to make a 2x4 go through a wall or to scatter debris in a certain pattern. Funnel clouds can caused damage, but they don't touch down. Tornadoes touch down.

I will say that a lot of people here see straight line wins and assume tornado. One doesn't equal the other, but it is what it is.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Is the word "Tornado" used incorrectly in Houston?…

I lived for a long time in Missouri and Kansas and over there a tornado means "a rotating column of air that goes from the grown all the way to the clouds"

In Houston, seems like everytime there's a storm and somebody's trampoline goes flying, people say that it was a tornado.

I think the word "Tornado" is used correctly, and I never heard people saying anything like that ...

[detachable arm]

I actually agree with Dope for once.

We don't get tornadoes here. However we do get rip currents in the atmosphere that happen to damage things if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Think of them as invisible darts.

[Clever nickname here]

Originally Posted by detachable arm

I actually agree with Dope for once.

We don't get tornadoes here. However we do get rip currents in the atmosphere that happen to damage things if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Think of them as invisible darts.

I was about to go off on no tornadoes with your second sentence. But, LOL.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by naadarien

I thought it was NOAA (as opposed to NWS), but either way...yes. No matter what anyone says, damage is assessed. It is pure science about how fast a wind must be blowing to make a 2x4 go through a wall or to scatter debris in a certain pattern. Funnel clouds can caused damage, but they don't touch down. Tornadoes touch down.

I will say that a lot of people here see straight line wins and assume tornado. One doesn't equal the other, but it is what it is.

And microbursts.