What is a tornado?

A tornado is a funnel-shaped windstorm which is powerful enough to uproot houses, trees and whatever it encounters on its path. It can leave a trail of destruction that will take months to recover from. Tornadoes are formed in clouds. When there is a meeting of warm, wet air and cool air it causes a swirling motion inside the clouds. It becomes a funnel of wind which dips down from the clouds to the earth. A tornado can move at a very fast clip. The effect of a tornado hitting the ground (called landfall) is like that of a giant vaccum cleaner. Cars and even houses can be sucked in and deposited far away!