Consider the following statements with reference to Tornadoes: 1. Tornadoes are smaller and more intense than hurricanes 2. Tornadoes are most abundant along the eastern coast of India 3. The average tornado lasts for less than one hour 4. Tornadoes are most common in the afternoons in the early summer Which of these statements are correct?

Tornadoes are small-diameter whirling vortices, significantly smaller than hurricanes, yet they can generate the strongest winds known on Earth, reaching up to 500 mph [c4, c5]. While hurricanes last for days, the mean duration of a tornado is measured in minutes, typically lasting less than one hour [c2]. Climatologically, tornadoes are most frequent in spring and early summer [c4]. In the Indian subcontinent, they are most abundant in Bangladesh and Northeast India (West Bengal and Odisha), rather than being a general feature of the entire eastern coast [c3, t2]. They also occur in the Great Plains of India during April and May [c1]. Diurnally, they are most common in the afternoon when convective heating is at its peak. Thus, statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct, while statement 2 is inaccurate regarding the specific high-frequency zone.

Sources

1. [1] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > tornadoes > p. 56
2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Extreme Atmospheric Events and their Duration > p. 84
3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 25: Thunderstorm > Distribution of Tornadoes > p. 348
4. [4] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 14: Climate > Cyclonic Activity > p. 143
5. [5] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 25: Thunderstorm > 25.3. Tornado > p. 346