Those who spot and report tornadoes are asked to classify them by their appearance. Weak tornadoes may look thin and spindle-like, and these are called "rope tornadoes." The classic V-shaped funnel that comes in contact with the ground is a stovepipe. Violent tornadoes are called wedges, such as the ones that devastated Oklahoma City in 1999 and Greensburg in 2007. Descriptive terms like these will give weather and emergency management workers a better idea of what they are dealing with. ...
Anytime
