Hurricane vs Tornado
Definitions
Basically, a hurricane is a heavy storm characterized by strong winds and rains. A hurricane originates from the ocean, and gathers strength as it glides across the water. Most of the damage that a hurricane causes is a result of a tidal surge, although the strong winds contribute to the devastation. By contrast, a tornado forms on land, without any prior warnings, and is usually characterized by powerful winds that move in a circular motion while forming a funnel shape. As this happens, it picks up and carries a lot of objects, while raising dust. Destruction results from the high velocity winds which can shatter an entire neighborhood in a matter of minutes.
Formation
A tornado forms ahead of a front, when some storm clouds gain strength and form ‘supercells’; and when the high pressure wind and low pressure winds collide, winds will circulate around each other. A tornado will be visible on radar when the air formed is of at least a measurable circulation. Tornadoes form rapidly, and touch the ground briefly before they spin back to the supercell. At times, they remain on the ground and generate winds of 250 mph, covering a large swath of land.
Hurricanes form as systems within themselves. The whole system originates from a low pressure system normally situated in the tropics. Cloud formation is fueled by the heated ocean water. Bands of rain clouds then begin to slowly form around the centre of the low pressure. The prevailing winds and the jet stream push the hurricane further into the ocean. It potentially starts as a ‘wave’, then forms a ‘depression’, which turns into a ‘storm’ when winds maintain speeds between 39 and 74 mph. By this time, a name would already have been assigned to it by the national meteorologists, based on an alphabetical progression. The storm will officially become a hurricane when the sustained wind speeds are at 75 mph. Hurricane formation, unlike a tornado, can be detected earlier, and progressively measured throughout its life span.
One notable difference in formation, is that hurricanes follow some loosely defined course, meaning that safety warnings are possible for any living in such a path. Tornadoes however, form within minutes, and safety warnings may only be issued after it has formed.
Strength
Generally, tornadoes generate more powerful winds than hurricanes, but they will last for a shorter time. The actual path that the funnel cloud took, is where most damage from an average tornado will be caused. For hurricanes, most of the damage is caused by the floods that proceed the high winds and heavy rains. Hurricanes also form storm surges, which result from ocean water building up high waves, but tornadoes do not form surges.
Summary:
Tornadoes form over land, and do not form storm surges, while hurricanes form over oceans and form storm surges.
Hurricanes cause damage from the resulting floods from the surge, while tornadoes cause damage by their powerful wind funnel.
Tornadoes generate stronger winds which last for shorter time periods, while hurricanes last longer.
Tornadoes form within a short time, and safety warnings are harder to get out in time, while hurricanes follow a loosely defined course, giving time for safety warnings.