How Does a Tornado Form

Tornadoes are huge rotating columns of air, known for their destructive capacity, which can be attributed to their gigantic size and enormous speed. On an average, a tornado can attain a height of around 5 - 10 miles in the air, and clock, a speed of around 120 - 150 miles. Their gigantic size in itself, is a proof of how destructive these natural disasters can be. Every year, several tornadoes rip through the United States and Canada, causing heavy destruction to the life and property. Though, there is nothing much we can do about them as yet, knowing interesting facts about a tornado and how a tornado forms can, at least, add to our knowledge base, and help us in understanding how dangerous they are.

Tornado Formation FAQs

The formation of a tornado can be attributed to unstable atmospheric conditions which are caused due to a range of underlying factors. In order to understand how does a tornado form one has to search for the answers of three question: where, when and how. The answers, to these three questions, given below will make understanding the tornado life cycle easier for you.

Where Does a Tornado Form?
Tornadoes have the propensity to form in any region, wherein suitable conditions prevail. Even though none of the continents are absolutely free from tornado threat, the continent of North America seems to be a hot-spot for these destructive forces of nature, followed by the Indian subcontinent. In the United States, suitable conditions for formation of tornado prevail as a result of merging of the cold polar air-mass from Alaska, with the hot tropical air-mass from Mexico. Water sprouts are the tornadoes that form near a water body or pass over a water body and gains a column of water or mist from it. Among the different types of tornadoes, waterspouts are considered to be the most destructive tornadoes.

When Does a Tornado Form?
Formation of tornadoes depends on a range of factors including temperature and humidity. Basically, a tornado is formed when varying temperature and humidity come together and result in formation of thunderclouds. Conditions: cold and dry conditions in upper atmosphere and warm and moist conditions in the lower atmosphere, which are most suitable for the formation of tornadoes, are most often observed, just before the onset of low pressure system.

How Does a Tornado Start?
As low pressure system develops, the air near the ground gets warmer, as a result of the Sun heating the ground, and starts rising upwards. Whilst the warm air is rising, the cold air prevailing in the upper atmosphere tends to block its upward march. This in turn, makes the air in between the hot and cold air masses move horizontally. While all of this is happening, the Sun continues to heat the ground, due to which the amount of warm air in the formation keeps getting refueled, until, it finally gets an edge over the cold air mass blocking its upward movement. Due to this, the cold air in upper atmosphere starts descending, while the warm air starts ascending in a spinning motion. As the amount of warm air in the formation increases, the formation goes on becoming stronger and taller.

This was brief information about how does a tornado form. Every year thousands of tornadoes charge the coastal areas of various regions in the world. However, not all are destructive and hence, do not get all that much attention. Some tornadoes keep the concerned authorities on heels, until they pass through the zone without causing any harm, while some hit the coastal areas and cause widespread damage to life and property. Some of the most famous tornadoes which rocked the various parts of the world include the Waco tornado, Flint Beecher tornado, Palm Sunday tornado, New Richmond tornado etc. These tornadoes are also the best examples of how devastating the nature can be.