What is a tornado?

A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of up to 500 kph! That's faster than a racing car! They can destroy large buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of meters.

How do tornadoes form?
Most tornadoes form from thunderstorms. You need warm, moist air meeting with cool, dry air. When this happens, the air becomes unstable with many currents that end up creating a tornado.