108 matured dfcfraclee. 



Tornadoes occur with greater frequency in 

 the United States than in any other section of 

 the globe. Tornadoes seldom occur in winter, 

 except perhaps in the Southern States. They 

 are more frequent in the month of May than 

 at any other time during the year, although 

 they occur sometimes in April, June, and July. 



Between 1870 and 1890 about sixty-five de- 

 structive tornadoes occurred in the United 

 States, involving great loss of life and prop- 

 erty. When a tornado moves off the land on 

 to the ocean it may become what is termed a 

 waterspout. These probably never originate 

 on the water, but after they have once formed 

 may be carried over the water to a considera- 

 ble distance. A tornado was never known to 

 originate on the shores of Lake Michigan, but 

 there are a few instances (the most notable 

 one being the Racine tornado) when they have 

 reached the lake after having traveled from 

 some distant point inland. 



The Eacine tornado so called because it de- 

 stroyed a large portion of that city happened 

 fifteen or more years ago. The tornado origi- 

 nated about 100 miles southwest of Racine, 

 Wis., in northern Illinois. The funnel-shaped 

 cloud passed over the lake, but the tornado 

 character of the storm was broken up before 

 it reached the other shore. 



When a tornado passes from land to water 

 it becomes a waterspout only when the cloud- 



