Tornadoes

Did TOTO weigh 400 pounds? It sure did – if you’re talking about the Totable Tornado Observatory, that is! A bundle of instruments that was used to measure the temperature, wind speed, and direction of many tornadoes, TOTO finally met its end when it was knocked over by one. All the crazy facts and figures – not to mention crazy people – that circulate around tornadoes are featured here. Kids who are fans of The Wizard of Oz can flesh out their knowledge of these killer spectacles with information on how they are born: Take the Great Plains in springtime, add a supercell thunderstorm, a fast, curving jet stream, and a dry wind from the west, and voilà – you have a twister!

Next, take a twirl through the top 10 twisters of all time, and then learn all about the Fujita Scale, which is used to measure tornadoes. For kids who collect bizarre trivia, a spread on amazing tornado occurrences and tornado myths will quickly become a favorite read. For those who want to know what it’s like to be a storm chaser, an interview with tracker Carson Eads, and a look at his ultra-slick “chasemobile,” will demonstrate just how following tornadoes, for kids, can be the coolest hobby ever.