Tornado

Have you ever seen a twisting funnel cloud in pictures or videos and wondered how it forms? This worksheet helps you explore tornadoes, one of nature’s most intense and dramatic weather events. You will learn how warm and cold air interact to create spinning columns of wind. Each activity guides you to understand what tornadoes look like, how they behave, and why they can be so destructive. As you learn, tornado science becomes clearer and more exciting.

You begin by exploring the basic ingredients needed for a tornado to form. Warm, moist air rises quickly, while cool, dry air pushes downward. When these two air masses collide in a thunderstorm, they can create strong rotation. You learn how this rotation can tighten and speed up, forming a funnel cloud that may touch the ground. Understanding these steps helps you see why tornadoes usually happen during severe storms.

Next, you discover what happens inside a tornado. Powerful winds swirl around a central column, creating an intense vacuum-like effect. You learn why tornadoes can pick up debris, break objects, and move unpredictably. Activities help you visualize how wind speed increases toward the center of the funnel. This gives you a deeper understanding of why tornadoes are rated on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. You begin to recognize patterns in tornado strength and impact.