Question

During the night, you woke up to strong rains and wind. You’re not exactly sure which kind of storm occurred. In the morning, you see that a tree in your yard is split in two. This is the only damage and debris in the area.

What type of storm most likely caused the damage?

cyclone
hurricane
thunderstorm
tornado

Answer 1

Tornado.

Reason: a tornado produces very intense, narrowly concentrated wind damage (snapping or debarking single trees) while leaving surrounding areas relatively untouched. Hurricanes/cyclones cause widespread damage over large areas, and thunderstorms/downbursts usually produce broader, less isolated damage.