EF1 Tornado Hits South Columbus, Residents Displaced
Listen to the story
An EF1 tornado struck the south side of Columbus on Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed. The storm has left several residents displaced from their homes.
The NWS uses a scale called the Enhanced Fujita Scale to measure tornado strength. An EF1 tornado is considered weak to moderate, but it can still cause real damage to buildings and trees.
Officials say the tornado caused enough damage that some residents cannot currently stay in their houses. Local authorities are helping those affected find safe places to stay.
In addition to the tornado, the NWS confirmed straight-line wind damage in nearby Upper Arlington. Unlike a tornado, straight-line winds blow in one direction rather than spinning.
Weather experts often carry out a storm survey after severe weather. This means they visit the damaged area and study patterns in fallen trees, damaged roofs, and other clues.
By comparing the damage in Columbus and Upper Arlington, the NWS was able to tell that two different types of wind events happened on the same day.
Severe storms like this can develop quickly, and residents are often advised to follow local weather alerts closely during storm season.
No further details have been released about injuries or the exact number of homes affected.
Vocabulary5 words
- tornado
- a strong spinning wind that can destroy buildings
- displaced
- forced to leave home because it is not safe
- Enhanced Fujita Scale
- a system used to measure how strong a tornado is
- straight-line wind
- strong wind blowing in one direction, not spinning
- storm survey
- a check of damage after a storm to learn what happened
Quiz
Answer key
1. The National Weather Service 2. It blows in one direction instead of spinning 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
An EF1 tornado struck the south side of Columbus on Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) has _____. The storm has left several residents _____ from their homes.
The NWS uses a scale called the Enhanced Fujita Scale to measure tornado _____. An EF1 tornado is considered weak to moderate, but it can still cause real damage to buildings and trees.
Officials say the tornado caused enough damage that some residents cannot currently stay in their houses. Local authorities are helping those affected find _____ places to stay.
In addition to the tornado, the NWS confirmed straight-line _____ damage in nearby Upper Arlington. Unlike a tornado, straight-line winds blow in one direction rather than spinning.
Weather experts often carry out a storm _____ after severe weather. This means they visit the damaged area and study patterns in fallen trees, damaged roofs, and other clues.
By comparing the damage in Columbus and Upper Arlington, the NWS was able to tell that two different types of wind _____ happened on the same day.
Severe storms like this can develop quickly, and residents are often advised to follow local weather _____ closely during storm season.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever experienced a tornado or severe storm? What happened?
- Why do you think it is important for weather services to confirm the exact type of storm damage?
- What kinds of help do you think displaced residents might need after a storm?
- How can people stay safe when a tornado warning is issued?
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