The TORRO scale, which measures the strength of these phenomena, simply involves doing basic arithmetic on the Beaufort wind scale. For 10 points each:
[10e] Name these violently rotating columns of air, whose strength is measured by the Enhanced Fujita scale. These phenomena occur frequently in a namesake “Alley” of the central US.
ANSWER: tornadoes [accept twisters; prompt on whirlwinds or vortex or vortices or funnel clouds]
[10m] Many tornadoes form in the mesocyclones that characterize these massive rotating thunderstorms which contain a persistent updraft.
ANSWER: supercells
[10h] Supercells are usually found alone, instead of in a line along a cold front with this name. A sudden increase in wind speed that lasts longer than a gust has this name.
ANSWER: squall [accept squall line]
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