A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground,
often taking the shape of a funnel cloud. Tornadoes are among the most violent and
destructive weather phenomena, capable of producing extreme winds that can exceed 300
miles per hour (480 km/h). These powerful storms can cause severe damage to buildings,
uproot trees, and turn debris into deadly projectiles.
How Tornadoes Form
Tornadoes typically form during severe thunderstorms under specific atmospheric conditions:
1. Formation of a Thunderstorm:
o Tornadoes usually develop in large, intense thunderstorms known as
supercells, which have strong, rotating updrafts called mesocyclones.
o Supercells form when warm, moist air from the ground rises and meets cooler,
drier air in the atmosphere, creating instability.
2. Wind Shear:
o A key factor in tornado formation is wind shear, which refers to a change in
wind speed and direction with height.
o Wind shear creates a horizontal spinning effect in the lower atmosphere.
3. Development of a Mesocyclone:
o As the warm air rises through the storm, it can tilt the horizontal spinning air
into a vertical rotation, forming a mesocyclone (a rotating updraft).
o The mesocyclone strengthens as more warm air is drawn in, leading to
increased rotation.
4. Formation of a Funnel Cloud:
o When the rotation intensifies, a funnel-shaped cloud may form and extend
downward from the base of the thunderstorm.
o This is known as a funnel cloud and consists of condensed water droplets.
5. Touching the Ground:
o If the funnel cloud reaches the ground, it officially becomes a tornado.
o Tornadoes can form very quickly, sometimes with little warning, and can last
from a few seconds to over an hour.
Characteristics of Tornadoes
Shape: Tornadoes can appear in various shapes, including narrow rope-like funnels,
wide wedge shapes, and classic cone shapes.
Size: Tornadoes can range in width from just a few meters to more than 2 miles (3.2
km) across.
Speed: The average forward speed of a tornado is about 30 mph (48 km/h), but some
can move much faster, up to 70 mph (113 km/h).
Color: Depending on the debris and dust picked up, tornadoes can appear gray,
brown, black, or even have a reddish hue if passing over specific types of soil.
Rotation: Most tornadoes in the Northern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise, while
those in the Southern Hemisphere generally rotate clockwise.
