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A tornaado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. Tornadoes are often referred to as twisters or whirlwinds, although the word whirlwind is used in meteorology for a more general term that includes dust devils and water spouts. Tornadoes are the most violent storms on Earth.

The vast majority of tornadoes occur in the United States, particularly in the "Tornado Alley" region of the central United States. They can occur at any time of year, but are most common in the spring and early summer. Tornadoes form when warm, moist air is lifted rapidly into a cooler, drier atmosphere. This creates an unstable environment where thunderstorms can develop. If these thunderstorms become severe, they can produce a mesocyclone, a rotating column of air within the thunderstorm. If the mesocyclone reaches the ground, it becomes a tornado.

Tornadoes can vary greatly in size, from a few feet wide to over a mile wide. They can also vary in intensity, from weak tornadoes that cause little damage to violent tornadoes that can destroy entire towns. The intensity of a tornado is measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which rates tornadoes from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest).

The dangers of tornadoes include high winds, flying debris, and the potential for significant property damage and loss of life. When a tornado warning is issued, people are advised to seek shelter in a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.