Tornado Videos, Tornadoes, Storm Videos, Storm Chasing, Stormgasm, Hurricanes. Lightning.jpg (JPEG Image, 1024 × 768 pixels) n02_sean-heavey.jpg (JPEG Image, 990 × 567 pixels) What causes tornadoes? Americans know tornadoes like no one else.
The U.S. averages at least 10 times more twisters each year than any other country on Earth, and their intensity is infamous — the worst can be a mile wide, rotate at 300 mph and plow along at 70 mph. Yet despite being target practice for these atmospheric power drills, America's tornado mythos is still cloaked in mystery and misunderstanding. That's understandable, considering tornadoes' stealthy nature — sudden appearances, erratic behavior and brief lifespans make them elusive subjects to study — but science has nonetheless learned a lot in recent decades. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but they wage all-out war on the U.S. during spring and summer.
With another tornado season already ramping up, below is a guide to how tornadoes work, when and where to expect them, and what you can do to make it out alive. Satellite images of Joplin, Mo., before and after the tornado. Storm Couds over Joplin, MO by DBRENNFOERDER. 175945.JPG (JPEG Image, 710 × 815 pixels) - Scaled (93%) Satellite images of Tuscaloosa, Ala., before and after the tornado.