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What is a funnel cloud made of?

Updated: 8/10/2023
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10y ago

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The formation of tornadoes and funnel clouds is complicated.

First, a condition called wind shear, in which the speed or direction of the wind changes with altitude. If the shear is strong enough it can essentially tilt a thunderstorm, this separates the updraft and downdraft of the thunderstorm, preventing them from interfering with one another. This allows the storm to become stronger and last longer.

Additionally, if the wind shear is strong enough it can start the air rolling in what is called horizontal vorticity. This horizontal vorticity can then be turned vertical by a thunderstorm's updraft. When this happens, the thunderstorm may start rotating. The rotation is especially strong in an updraft called a mesocyclone. If the storm intensifies rapidly enough, a relatively warm downdraft called a rear-flank downdraft or RFD can wrap around the bottom part of the mesocyclone. This can then tighten and intensify its rotation and to produce a funnel cloud If it produces damaging winds on the ground it becomes a tornado.

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13y ago
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8y ago

A funnel cloud is a tapered, rotating cloud created by convection and conflicting wind directions. If it reaches the surface, it becomes a tornado, or a waterspout, but only a small minority of funnel clouds become tornadoes.

Funnel clouds can also indicate weak tornadoes that don't have a visible portion reaching the ground. A destructive tornado could look like a funnel cloud if the air is unusually dry, preventing the formation of cloud material all the way to the ground. In this case, spinning debris would be the only indication of destructive winds.

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A funnel cloud is a tornado that's either in the air so you can see in it or it's trying to make a tornado or water spout.

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6y ago

A funnel cloud forms when the rotating mesocyclone of a thunderstorm tightens and intensifies. Air drawn into the vortex experiences a drop in pressure, which cools the air and causes moisture in it to condense and form a cloud.

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10y ago

A funnel cloud is composed of air and water droplets just like an ordinary cloud. The air pressure inside a tornado is low. This cools air that enters into it, causing moisture in that air to condense. A tornado also often lifts up a cloud of dust, but that is a separate feature from the funnel.

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13y ago

a tornado

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12y ago

A tornado

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Q: What is a funnel cloud made of?
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Related questions

What is the synomym of funnel cloud?

A funnel cloud may be called a condensation funnel or simply a funnel.


What is a funnel-shaped cloud called?

A funnel shaped cloud is called a funnel cloud. If it touches the ground it is called a tornado.


What is a funnel cloud that touches the cloud?

All funnel clouds touch the clouds. A funnel cloud that touched the ground is called a tornado.


what is a good sentence for funnel cloud?

The funnel cloud turned into a tornado.


What is the funnel of a tornado called?

tornado is often made visible by a distinctive funnel-shaped cloud. Commonly called the condensation funnel, the funnel cloud is a tapered column of water droplets that extends downward from the base of the parent cloud. It is commonly mixed with and perhaps enveloped by dust and debris lifted from the surface.


Is a tornado a type of cloud that forms circles around twists rotates and or circulates?

To a degree. A tornado is often made visible by a cloud known as a condensation funnel or funnel cloud. The tornado itself is not a cloud, however, but a violent rotating windstorm. The condensation funnel is sometimes absent in a tornado.


How do you put the word funnel cloud in the sentence?

Here are some sentences.She saw a funnel cloud in the distance.A tornado forms from a funnel cloud.


What has a funnel and is at the bottom of a cumulonimbus cloud?

A tornado has a funnel and is at the bottom of a cumulonimbus cloud. If its winds do not reach the ground, though it is just a funnel cloud.


A funnel cloud touching the ground?

A funnel cloud that touches the ground is a tornado.


How do you use funnel cloud in a sentence?

This is a cloud that can form into a tornado. Here are some sentences.I worried when I saw a funnel cloud forming in the distance.The funnel cloud dropped out of the sky.The weatherman said that a funnel cloud had been seen over town.


How do you tell when there is a funnel cloud?

You can tell if there is a funnel cloud when the cloud looks like it is swirling and then it can drop a tornado


When the tip of the funnel cloud touches the ground it becomes a?

tornado clouds