A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud.
Supercells
Most strong tornadoes form from a specific type of thunderstorm called a supercell. Supercells contain a deep, persistent rotating updraft called a mesocyclone.
For a tornado to form, specific conditions are needed:
- Instability: Warm, moist air near the ground and cooler dry air aloft.
- Wind Shear: Change in wind speed and direction with height.
When these conditions align, the rotating air column can tighten and accelerate, eventually reaching the ground as a tornado.
