Tornadoes form when winds at different altitudes and at different speeds, which create a wind sheer that causes a horizontal rotation of air. A formation of a mesocyclone is also needed to form tornadoes. Tornadoes in the United States usually travel North-West. This is the dominant direction because of the Westerlies. Tornadoes can form in South Africa as well.
The average number of tornadoes in the United States is about 1000.
Website: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/monthly/newm.html
The average number of tornadoes in South Africa is about 1000 as well.
Website: http://www.enca.com/opinion/blog-post/tornadoes-south-africa
South Africa falls in the low to moderate risk of having tornadoes.
It seems that tornadoes have increased over time, but that might not be true because since technology is advancing, we have had more chances to record the occurrences of tornadoes.
Hurricanes
Three main requirements for hurricanes to form are ocean temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, deep warm ocean layer of 200 m in depth, and the Coriolis needs to initiate the rotation.
Hurricanes form in the tropics and occurs in the United States, East Asia, Australia, South Africa and India. They are called Hurricanes in the Atlantic and East Pacific, Cyclones in the Indian Ocean near Australia and Typhoons off the coast of China and Indonesia.
In the United States, hurricanes usually travel in a "C" path due to the change in latitude and wind directions. East to West.
South Africa experiences some cyclones. United States have an average of 7-8 hurricanes per year.
Website: http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/hurrarchive.asp
Hello i am doing Severe Weather in Zimbabwe, a country neighboring South Africa. Though our countries are very close in proximity, Zimbabwe receives little to no hurricanes or tornadoes, due to the fact that Madagascar is blocking and changing the direction of wind in the area so that it is diverted around Zimbabwe. This unique location protects Zimbabwe from natural disasters, as they follow the path of the prevailing winds, and there is and obstruction in the normal flow of wind because Madagascar is in the way. On the other hand, South Africa is in the middle of a tornado hotspot and receives almost the same amount of hurricanes per year as the US.
ReplyDeleteThe number of tornadoes that occur in South Africa is far more than the number in China. In china, there are only about 1-3 tornadoes per year, which is far less than the 1000 per year that South Africa experiences. However, China will experience a few more hurricanes per year than South Africa. China is in a more direct region of hurricanes than South Africa.
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