Is this climate change in action? In the past week tornadoes have caused havoc in Los Angeles and Mississippi.
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Tornado sucks teacher out of her classroom
Is this climate change in action? In the past week tornadoes have caused havoc in Los Angeles and Mississippi.
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What's happening?
The wind was howling around Vail High School in CaliforniaA large state on the west coast of the USA. It is the country's most populous state, with more than 37 million people. First settled by Native Americans as much as 13,000 years ago, the area was subsequently conquered by Spain, then was absorbed into Mexico, which was forced to hand it over to the USA in 1848., USAThe United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million. . A teacher cracked open the door of her classroom. Suddenly, the wind blew the door wide open. The teacher was pulled off her feet.
The teacher was saved by one of her students last week. It was one of two tornadoesA strong, dangerous wind that spins very quickly in a funnel and reaches down to the ground. It can destroy things that it passes over. in California in 24 hours.
But in MississippiA state in the south of the USA with a population of nearly 3 million. , thousands of miles east, people were not so lucky. A huge tornado hit the town of Rolling Fork.
The tornado lasted for more than an hour and was very wide. It moved 59 miles in that time. It was eight o'clock at night when the tornado hit, so many people did not see it coming.
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At least 25 people have died and many homes were ruined. The powerfuls wind crushed cars and threw bricks, trees and glass into the air.
ExpertsSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. were surprised by the strength of the tornado. Global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change. makes thunderstorms more likely, but sudden changes in wind speed less likely. And tornadoes have hit this part of the USA for many years.
Yes! Climate change makes extremeVery great, or beyond what is expected. weather more common. We should not be surprised by lots of big tornadoes.
No! There have always been tornadoes. The most violent one we know about took place nearly 100 years ago in 1925.
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Is this climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change. in action?
Keywords
California - A large state on the west coast of the USA. It is the country's most populous state, with more than 37 million people. First settled by Native Americans as much as 13,000 years ago, the area was subsequently conquered by Spain, then was absorbed into Mexico, which was forced to hand it over to the USA in 1848.
USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.
Tornadoes - A strong, dangerous wind that spins very quickly in a funnel and reaches down to the ground. It can destroy things that it passes over.
Mississippi - A state in the south of the USA with a population of nearly 3 million.
Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Extreme - Very great, or beyond what is expected.
Tornado sucks teacher out of her classroom
Danger zone: The area of the US from Texas to South Dakota is known as Tornado Alley. Glossary
California - A large state on the west coast of the USA. It is the country's most populous state, with more than 37 million people. First settled by Native Americans as much as 13,000 years ago, the area was subsequently conquered by Spain, then was absorbed into Mexico, which was forced to hand it over to the USA in 1848.
USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.
Tornadoes - A strong, dangerous wind that spins very quickly in a funnel and reaches down to the ground. It can destroy things that it passes over.
Mississippi - A state in the south of the USA with a population of nearly 3 million.
Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Extreme - Very great, or beyond what is expected.