Graphing and Analyzing Data

Tornadoes are powerful storms that can destroy towns in minutes. Scientists study them to keep us safe, but collecting data isn’t enough—it must be presented clearly. That’s where graphs help!

From 1950 to 2007, Clearwater, Florida, had an average of 7.4 tornadoes per 1000 square miles annually, while Lubbock, Texas, had just 1.6.

A bar graph represents these values side-by-side, making the data easy to understand at a glance.

Similarly, data from 1986 to 1995 shows that 55% of all U.S. tornadoes were rated F0, the weakest on the scale, while only 0.1% were rated F5, the strongest.

This can be represented using a circle graph, which is great for showing parts of a whole and highlights how most tornadoes are weak, with only a tiny fraction being extremely powerful.

Line graphs tell a story over time, such as tracking tornadoes by month.

From 2009 to 2011, the average number of tornadoes peaked at 371 in April and dropped to 34 in December. Connecting these averages shows the seasonal trends, with tornadoes most common in spring.