tornado formation

Tornadoes form when a large thunderstorm, known as a supercell, develops strong rotating updrafts called mesocyclones. Warm, moist air near the ground rises rapidly and interacts with colder, drier air aloft. Wind shear causes the horizontal air to tilt into a vertical rotation, which can intensify into a rotating updraft. This rotation tightens and stretches, forming a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground. If it makes contact with the surface, a tornado occurs, capable of causing significant damage. The process involves complex interactions of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction within the storm environment.