LiveScience Topics: Tornadoes

Tornadoes are the most powerful, unpredictable and destructive weather systems on Earth. The National Weather Service (NWS) defines a Tornado as a violently rotating column of air in contact with the earth’s surface (land or water) and commonly associated with a severe thunderstorm. A tornado generally occurs when high winds within a low pressure system (such as a thunderstorm) cause water vapor in the air to condense in to a condensation funnel cloud. Many less severe tornadoes are not even visible to the human eye. Major tornadoes usually become more visible when the strong winds within the funnel lift up dirt and debris off the Earth’s surface. Tornadoes are generally classified as either a land spout (a tornado on land), a water spout (a tornado that forms over water) or a gustnado (a small tornado caused by a strong downburst of wind from a thunderstorm). The average tornado has maximum wind speeds of about 112 mph or less, measures around 250 feet in width and travels approximately one mile before falling apart. Some of the most catastrophic tornadoes in recorded history have had winds in excess of 300 miles an hour (twice that of a category 5 hurricane), have measured more than 2 miles in girth, and have carved devastating paths of destruction miles and miles in length.

Explore Tornadoes

More Than a Storm Chaser

Graduate student studies storms not for the thrill of the chase, but to better understand weather.
Hurricanes Spawning More U.S. Tornadoes

Records show more tornadoes spinning off from land-falling hurricanes.
Louisiana Native Takes on Storm Season

Ian Giammanco is part of a team of scientists getting up close and personal with severe storms.

More Tornadoes News and Information

Video Shot into the Eye of a Tornado

A twister tilted over on its side and the crew got video looking into the tornado from the top.
Year Without Summer? Don't Believe It

If you've seen headlines today on the web about a this being "year without a summer," don't believe it.
Flying Is Safer Than Ever

U.S. aircraft accident record remains solid, despite recent high-profile crashes.
Students Venture into Hearts of Violent Storms

Researchers brave the wind, rain, and hail, to set up instruments to collect valuable data for understanding extreme weather events.
Biggest Tornado Chasing Effort Ever Planned

The blitz will run May 10 to June 13.
Volcano Plumes Spin Like Tornadoes

Volcanic plumes found to rotate like tornado systems, producing dust devils and lightning.
Team Tornado: Chasing Twisters for Science

Ride with Reed Timmer and his colleagues on their quests to photograph and video-capture dangerous weather phenomena at frighteningly close distances.
Team Tornado: Meet Team Tornado

Reed and Joel say why they fall victim to their curiosity. Reed Timmer, self-described "extreme weather fanatic" spends every tornado season as close as he can to dangerous "supercell" thunderstorms.
Team Tornado: Stones From The Sky

Team Tornado hit by baseball-sized hail. Warning: Strong Language. Reed Timmer, self-described "extreme weather fanatic" spends every tornado season as close as he can to dangerous "supercell" thunderstorms.
Team Tornado: Wild Chase

Wild ride toward Tulia, Texas, as a tornado wreaks havoc on the town. Reed Timmer, self-described "extreme weather fanatic" spends every tornado season as close as he can to dangerous "supercell" thunderstorms.
Team Tornado: Supertwister's Scream

Supertwister chases the Team, devours a house; then poses before a rainbow. Reed Timmer, self-described "extreme weather fanatic" spends every tornado season as close as he can to dangerous "supercell" thunderstorms.
Team Tornado: Too Close!

Supertwister forms near Manchester, SD, way too near Team Tornado. Reed Timmer, self-described "extreme weather fanatic" spends every tornado season as close as he can to dangerous "supercell" thunderstorms.
Team Tornado: Tornado Genesis

The team witnesses a twister from birth to maturity. Reed Timmer, self-described "extreme weather fanatic" spends every tornado season as close as he can to dangerous "supercell" thunderstorms.
Team Tornado: Ride Like The Wind

Ride with Team Tornado Research as they capture dangerous weather phenomena at frighteningly close distances. Reed Timmer, Dave Holder, Joel Taylor and Dean Schoeneck are self-described "extreme weather fanatics".
Team Tornado: Chasing the Beast

Researchers pursue a monster wedge tornado across the plains of Manitoba. Reed Timmer, self-described "extreme weather fanatic" spends every tornado season as close as he can to dangerous "supercell" thunderstorms.
Why People Don't Heed Tornado Warnings

New National Weather Service report lists some reasons people ignore tornado warnings.
Tornadoes in Winter?

Twisters can strike any time of year, in many parts of the country, and frighteningly often at night.
Forecast: More Killer Tornadoes Strike at Night

While overall tornado deaths have declined, nighttime fatalities still a problem.
How a Man-Made Tornado Could Power the Future

The electricity for a small city could be generated from the wind being sucked up an artificial tornado.
Early Tornado Warnings Not Always Helpful

Earlier warning may not help save people from worst tornadoes.
Myanmar Aid Deliveries Now 'Race Against Time'

Aid deliveries to Myanmar now race against time to prevent disease disaster.

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LiveScience Topics: Tornadoes

Explore Tornadoes

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