A Tornado is a violently rotating column of air descending from a thunderstorm and in contact with the ground.

The United States experiences more tornadoes by far than any other country. Each year about 1000 tornadoes will strike the United States.

The peak of the tornado season is April through June when more tornadoes strike the central United States than any other place in the world. This area has been nicknamed "tornado alley."

Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months. Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

Tornadoes can be produced in batches. In one 24-hour period in 1974, a remarkable 148 tornadoes struck in 13 states and Canada. Tornadoes may strike quickly, with little or no warning.

• Tornadoes may appear transparent until dust and debris are picked up.
• Tornadoes can form in the early stages of rapidly developing thunderstorms.
• More than one tornado may occur at the same time.
• Tornadoes are capable of wind speeds over 250 mph.
• Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.

The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may vary from stationary to 70 MPH. Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.

Most tornadoes are spawned from supercell thunderstorms. Supercell thunderstorms are characterized by a persistent rotating updraft and form in environments of strong vertical wind shear. Wind shear refers to a change in wind speed and or direction along a straight line or over a short distance. Wind Shear can be vertical shear or horizontal shear.

Wind Shear helps severe thunderstorms organize, which in turn can lead to tornadoes and hailstorms. Wind Shear can help thunderstorm's maintain there strength for a longer period of time. Thunderstorms with no vertical wind shear weaken, lowering the chance for hail or Tornadoes.

Although tornadoes are usually brief, lasting only a few minutes, they can sometimes last for more than an hour and travel several miles causing considerable damage.

In 2006 a teenager set's the record for the longest distance a tornado has carried a person who survived,one thousand three hundred and seven feet.