From the anatomy of a tornado to the weather conditions that invite them to form, this title has everything a person wants to know about tornados. There is discussion of historic twisters, as well, and a map showing the infamous area of our country known as “Tornado Alley” with detailed information about why this region is so prone to tornados.

Explains what a tornado is, how it forms, the devastation it can cause, and what scientists are doing today to keep people safe.

‘Branley explains these powerful storms in simple terms young children can understand. He describes the funnel cloud and how it forms and [tells] what to do during a tornado. The book ends on a comfortable note, that the idea is not to panic but to know what to do to ensure safety.’ —BL. A Reading Rainbow Selection

From the heart of tornado alley, Smith takes us into the eye of America's most devastating storms and behind the scenes of some of the world's most renowned scientific institutions to uncover the relationship between mankind and the weather.

Distributed to some depository libraries in microfiche.

In the blink of an eye, the small Texas town of Harper Springs is flattened by the worst tornadic system to ever hit the area. Homes are demolished, trees are uprooted, and people are left for dead. Taking cover in a cellar with his son, Ryan Gibson narrowly escapes the storm and gets separated from his wife. He hopes that help will come fast - his child is severely injured and the crippling weather pattern rages on, making them pawns in Mother Nature's game. Weeks pass with no sign of another human being. Tornadoes continue to hammer away at the already ravished land. Ryan wonders why they have been forgotten. Basic survival skills set in - their food rations get smaller, their water intake less, and their limited resources will soon be gone. With his son's fading health and his wife still missing, he will have to make a decision soon - leave their shelter and risk death, or stay patient and hold out hope that a rescue team is on the way. A harsh truth will soon be revealed - the tranquil way of life in Harper Springs will never be the same