Tornadoes 101 | National Geographic

call them twisters or tornadoes nature’s

call them twisters or tornadoes nature’s most violent storms with swirling winds

most violent storms with swirling winds

most violent storms with swirling winds that can top 300 miles per hour about

that can top 300 miles per hour about

that can top 300 miles per hour about 800 twisters sweep through the US every

800 twisters sweep through the US every

800 twisters sweep through the US every year or than anywhere else in the world

year or than anywhere else in the world

year or than anywhere else in the world the hardest hit area is a swath of the

the hardest hit area is a swath of the

the hardest hit area is a swath of the Great Plains from Texas to South Dakota

Great Plains from Texas to South Dakota

Great Plains from Texas to South Dakota known as Tornado Alley here warm air

known as Tornado Alley here warm air

known as Tornado Alley here warm air flows up from the Gulf of Mexico in the

flows up from the Gulf of Mexico in the

flows up from the Gulf of Mexico in the spring and summer and crashes into cold

spring and summer and crashes into cold

spring and summer and crashes into cold air pushing down from Canada the meeting

air pushing down from Canada the meeting

air pushing down from Canada the meeting produces violent thunderstorms called

produces violent thunderstorms called

produces violent thunderstorms called super cells scientists don’t completely

super cells scientists don’t completely

super cells scientists don’t completely understand how or when tornadoes form

understand how or when tornadoes form

understand how or when tornadoes form but they do know a supercell like this

but they do know a supercell like this

but they do know a supercell like this one can produce a twister if the

one can produce a twister if the

one can produce a twister if the conditions are right as warm moist air

conditions are right as warm moist air

conditions are right as warm moist air flows into a storm it gets pushed up and

flows into a storm it gets pushed up and

flows into a storm it gets pushed up and twisted by upper-level winds as this

twisted by upper-level winds as this

twisted by upper-level winds as this rotating column of air gathers force

rotating column of air gathers force

rotating column of air gathers force conditions are ripe for a collision

conditions are ripe for a collision

conditions are ripe for a collision below when rain cooled down drafts hit

below when rain cooled down drafts hit

below when rain cooled down drafts hit warm air near the ground a low-hanging

warm air near the ground a low-hanging

warm air near the ground a low-hanging revolving cloud forms beneath the cell a

revolving cloud forms beneath the cell a

revolving cloud forms beneath the cell a tornado is imminent

tornado is imminent

tornado is imminent tornadoes don’t last long anywhere from

tornadoes don’t last long anywhere from

tornadoes don’t last long anywhere from 20 seconds to an hour but it can take

20 seconds to an hour but it can take

20 seconds to an hour but it can take years to recover from the devastation

years to recover from the devastation

years to recover from the devastation these storms kill nearly 90 people each

these storms kill nearly 90 people each

these storms kill nearly 90 people each year in the US and caused millions of

year in the US and caused millions of

year in the US and caused millions of dollars worth of damage when a tornado

dollars worth of damage when a tornado

dollars worth of damage when a tornado is spotted experts advise going to a

is spotted experts advise going to a

is spotted experts advise going to a basement staying away from any windows

basement staying away from any windows

basement staying away from any windows or climbing into a first floor bathtub

or climbing into a first floor bathtub

or climbing into a first floor bathtub while most people run for safety when a

while most people run for safety when a

while most people run for safety when a twister appears some scientists actually

twister appears some scientists actually

twister appears some scientists actually rates to meet it these storm chasers

rates to meet it these storm chasers

rates to meet it these storm chasers hunt down tornadoes trying to get right

hunt down tornadoes trying to get right

hunt down tornadoes trying to get right in the twisters path they encounter

in the twisters path they encounter

in the twisters path they encounter incredible cloud movement torrential

incredible cloud movement torrential

incredible cloud movement torrential rain

rain

rain severe winds and hail lightning

breathtaking storm structures when they

breathtaking storm structures when they finally locate a twister they measure it

finally locate a twister they measure it

finally locate a twister they measure it using special tools these scientists

using special tools these scientists

using special tools these scientists hope to someday predict exactly when and

hope to someday predict exactly when and

hope to someday predict exactly when and where tornadoes will strike little can

where tornadoes will strike little can

where tornadoes will strike little can prevent the damage caused by tornadoes

prevent the damage caused by tornadoes

prevent the damage caused by tornadoes but better forecasting could save more

but better forecasting could save more

but better forecasting could save more lives giving survivors the chance to

lives giving survivors the chance to

lives giving survivors the chance to rebuild after living through one of the

rebuild after living through one of the

rebuild after living through one of the most violent storms on earth