Why can you see a tornado?

You can't really see a tornado. What you actually see is all the dust, dirt and debris that the tornado has picked up and is swirling around at speeds of up to 300mph.

What is a hurricane's eye?

At the centre of a hurricane there is very little wind. Imagine standing inside a huge doughnut. You might even see blue sky above you. This is the eye of the hurricane. It could be up to 200km wide.

Which countries get tornadoes?

India and Bangladesh get lots of tornadoes but the USA has more than any other country - usually about 1000 each year.

Which way do whirly winds spin?

In the northern hemisphere they usually spin anti-clockwise while they spin clockwise in the southern hemisphere. This would be the other way round if the Earth spun in the opposite direction.

What are storm chasers?

They are people who go tornado hunting. Some are professionals who want to find out more about tornadoes and their causes. Others are amateurs who love the thrill of getting close to a twister and taking some thrilling photographs.

Where can I find out more?

Turn to the next page.