A tornado can form in a thunderstorm where the rotating air of an updraft (shown in purple) meets the rotating air of a downdraft (shown in aqua), which has turned upward.

Tornado formation is believed to be dictated mainly by things which happen on the storm scale, in and around the mesocyclone. Recent theories and results from the VORTEX2 program suggest that once a mesocyclone is underway, tornado development is related to the temperature differences across the edge of downdraft air wrapping around the ...

Jul 16, 2024 · How exactly do tornadoes form? What are the causes of wind shear that lead to rotation? NOAA scientists are working to learn more about tornado formation and improve forecasting. Read more in the “ Tornado research and advancements in forecasting ” section.

The updraft of warm air causes the vortex to swell with water vapor, creating a spiraling funnel cloud at its center—the first visible sign that a tornado is brewing.

Dec 5, 2024 · Conditions are ripe for tornadoes when the air becomes very unstable, with winds at different altitudes blowing in different directions or at different speeds—a condition called wind shear.

Jan 2, 2025 · Tornado, a small-diameter column of violently rotating air developed within a convective cloud and in contact with the ground. Tornadoes occur most often in association with thunderstorms during the spring and summer in the mid-latitudes of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Aug 28, 2019 · Learn how these deadly storms form and wreak havoc, and how you can reduce your risk. Tornadoes are vertical funnels of rapidly spinning air. Their winds may top 250 miles an hour and can clear a...

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air in contact with the surface and a cumuliform cloud base. Tornado formation is caused by the stretching and aggregating/merging of environmental and/or storm-induced vorticity that tightens into an intense vortex.

Mar 30, 2024 · In this guide, we’ll explore the science behind tornadoes, focusing on the meteorological processes that lead to their formation, the stages of development, the types of tornadoes, and the environmental factors that influence their intensity.

Mar 18, 2017 · Learn what causes a tornado or twister, and the role of severe thunderstorms in their formation. Also introduced are tornado myths, how tornadoes are studied, and where the most severe storms are located.