Tornado

A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, creating a visible funnel shape. Tornadoes form when warm, moist air meets cold, dry air, causing strong updrafts and wind shear—variations in wind speed and direction—with rotation. This intense rotation can concentrate and intensify into a tornado, which can cause severe damage due to its high wind speeds, sometimes exceeding 300 miles per hour. Tornadoes can vary greatly in size and strength, and their unpredictable paths make them a significant weather hazard in many regions.