A tornado, also known as a "twister," is a violently rotating column of air extending from a cloud to the ground, often visible as a funnel of condensation and debris, capable of immense destruction. While most tornadoes are relatively small with wind speeds under 180 km/h (110 mph), extreme ones can surpass 480 km/h (300 mph), span over 3 kilometers (2 mi) wide, and remain on the ground for more than 100 km (62 mi). Tornadoes most commonly strike North America, especially the central and southeastern United States, famously known as "Tornado Alley," which experiences the highest number of tornadoes globally.
Detection relies on pulse-Doppler radar, identifying patterns like hook echoes, and efforts from storm spotters. Their destructive power is rated using scales such as the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF0-EF5), which categorizes tornadoes from minor damage to ripping buildings off their foundations, based on the severity of the impact.