Understanding Tornadoes and Their Characteristics

What is a tornado?

• A big snowstorm

• A fast-spinning column of air that goes from a cloud to the ground

• A type of hurricane

• A very cold wind

How does a tornado usually start?

• When warm air slides under cold air

• When cold, dry air meets warm, wet air

• When two cold air masses crash together

• When a thunderstorm stops spinning

How fast can the winds inside a tornado blow?

• Around 50 kilometers an hour

• Up to 500 kilometers an hour

• About the same speed as a car on the road

• Slower than a person can run

Where do most tornadoes happen in the world?

• In the middle of the ocean

• In very cold places like the North Pole

• In the United States

• In deserts