T is for Tornado and Tsunami

My theme for my 2015 A to Z Challenge came from my Disaster Crimes series. Disasters are a theme in each story, so it got me thinking about all the disasters that occur from natural disasters to manmade disasters.
Today’s disasters are...TORNADO and TSUNAMI
A tornado is rotating column of air that extends from a parent cumulonimbus thundercloud and touches the ground. When low pressure at the base warms, moist air from the ground rises and rubs against the cold air, creating the start of a funnel cloud. As air is drawn into the funnel’s center and condenses, it stretches. The moment it touches the ground, it’s no longer a funnel cloud but a tornado. Tornadoes that form over water are known as water vortices or water spouts.
FACT:Places in the West, such as Kansas, have dust devils, which are tornadoes made of dust.
March 22-23 1981 Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak
Image from Wikipedia
Tornadoes are very dangerous and can cause a lot of damage. The wind can pick up cars and rip off rooftops. Because tornadoes are narrow, one area can be completely destroyed while another area close by can be untouched.
FACT:Tornadoes are usually short-lived, covering about 1-2 miles.
F  Scale:F0 65-85mphF1 86-110mphF2 111-135mphF3 136-166mphF4 167-200mphF5 over 200mph
Tornado aftermath.
Image from Wikipedia
Tsunamis are massive ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes. When the seafloor ruptures, water becomes displaced and rises up and out. As the wave travels toward shore, the size increases drastically.
Image from WikipediaFACT:Tsunamis travel at 310-500mph, and from crest-to-crest its distance is about 125 miles long.
If you’re ever at the beach when a tsunami hits, you’ll likely notice the water draw back much farther than usual as the wave approaches. When the wave gets closer, the water will rush back to shore and rise rapidly while moving inland.
FACT:Tsunamis can lift boats, vehicles, houses, and people.
After about 20 minutes, the water will reverse quickly and strongly, taking debris and people out to sea.
Thailand
Image from Wikipedia

QUESTIONS:Have you ever experienced a tornado? What are your favorite tornado/tsunami movies? I love Twister!

Disasters:A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm
E: Earthquake
F: FloodG: Gas Explosion
H: Hailstorm
I: Ice Storm and Iceberg
J. Judgment DayK: Killings
L: Limnic Eruption and Lightning Storm
M: Mudslide
N: Nuclear Meltdown
O: Oil SpillP: Plague
Q: Quasar Explosion
R: Rockfall
S: Solar Flare and Sinkhole
T: Tornado and Tsunami



I'm a member of Tremp's Troops!
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Ghost of Death was released yesterday!!! This is a supernatural-suspense short story of 41 pages.

Blurb: Jolie Montgomery, a twenty-one-year-old woman, wakes up in an alley next to her corpse. She has no memories of her murder or the night she died. She didn’t even see the killer’s face before he or she took her life. Wanting justice, Jolie seeks answers in the only way a ghost can...by stalking the lead detective on the case.
Avrianna Heavenborn is determined to find the person responsible for a young woman’s death. She gets closer to the killer’s identity with every clue she uncovers, and Jolie is with her every step of the way. But if they don’t solve her murder soon, Jolie will be an earth-bound spirit forever.
Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK /  NOOK / KOBO

P.S. Witch of Death is available for pre-order. Click here.