The sky is gray, the wind is wild,
The meteorologist just smiled,
She said "we're in Tornado Alley,
A place where storms can be quite scally."

She checked her Doppler radar screen,
And saw a sight that made her keen,
A supercell was on its way,
And it could cause quite a display.

A tornado watch was soon declared,
And kids ran home feeling scared,
But the meteorologist explained,
That they could still have fun, unchained.

They could watch for funnel clouds,
And rate them with an F-rating proud,
They could learn about the weather,
And how to keep themselves together.

Then suddenly, a warning came,
A tornado was now fair game,
The kids rushed to their safe place,
And waited for the storm to face.

But soon enough, the danger passed,
The tornado never came to harass,
The kids came out and looked around,
And saw the beauty in the aftermath, astound.

For even though the storm was strong,
It showed the world its power song,
And taught the kids to be aware,
Of nature's might and how to prepare.

Reflections

1. What is Tornado Alley, and why do tornadoes happen more frequently in that area?
2. How does Doppler radar help meteorologists predict tornadoes?
3. What should you do if a tornado warning is issued in your area?
4. What is an F-rating, and why do meteorologists use it to rate tornadoes?
5. What did the kids in the story learn about tornadoes, and how did that change their perspective on storms?