How Tornadoes Form!

First we'll talk about how a tornado actually forms! In the movies you might see the wind suddenly change and then out of nowhere a huge tornado is coming down the road, well there is a lot more to it than that!

1. First there is a change in wind direction and a change in wind speed, this creates an invisible horizontal spinning effect in the lower atmosphere.
2. Rising air in the thunderstorm updraft tilts the rotating air from horizontal to vertical.
3. Now an area 2-6 miles wide extends through much of the storm, most strong and violent tornadoes form within this are of rotation!
4. Then... there is a lower cloud base called a "Rotating Wall Cloud" that forms!
5. Moments later a strong tornado develops and then... YOU BETTER WATCH OUT!!!

Link: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html