A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm down to the ground. It is often visible as a funnel-shaped cloud, and the winds inside a tornado can be extremely strong, reaching speeds up to 300 miles per hour. Tornadoes can cause significant destruction, such as uprooting trees, destroying buildings, and hurling debris over large distances. They typically form in conditions where warm, moist air meets cool, dry air, creating instability and rotation in thunderstorms. Tornado paths of damage can be over a mile wide and extend for miles in length. Tornadoes can occur suddenly with little warning and are among the most violent weather phenomena.
