What causes a tornado? All you need to know

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Almost all tornadoes create physical damage. Severe ones can also have emotional and financial impacts on those affected.

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Dr. Jenna Crowe-Riddell

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When these two air masses meet, they create an area of low pressure, as the warm air rises through the colder air.

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A supercell is any thunderstorm with a mesocyclone occupying its core. The most common type of tornado comes from a supercell thunderstorm.

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What causes a tornado? All you need to know

SCIENCE

BY SADE AGARD

SCIENCE

A tornado is a powerful and destructive weather phenomenon that occurs when strong winds and thunderstorms collide.

SCIENCE

There are several different types of tornadoes, each with its own characteristics and level of intensity.

Almost all tornadoes create physical damage. Severe ones can also have emotional and financial impacts on those affected.

SCIENCE

Dr. Jenna Crowe-Riddell

The collision of warm, moist air and cold, dry air causes tornadoes.

SCIENCE

When these two air masses meet, they create an area of low pressure, as the warm air rises through the colder air.

SCIENCE

SCIENCE

There are several different types of tornadoes, each with its own characteristics and level of intensity.

A supercell is any thunderstorm with a mesocyclone occupying its core. The most common type of tornado comes from a supercell thunderstorm.

SCIENCE

SCIENCE

Although the largest and deadliest tornadoes occur in supercell thunderstorms, many tornadoes also occur in non-supercell clouds and storms.

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