Learn about the disastrous and deadly power of tornadoes
Tornadoes possess enormous destructive power.
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News •
Turkey tornado kills 4 at Antalya construction site
• Oct. 27, 2026, 2:39 PM ET (The Weather Channel)
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• Oct. 22, 2026, 4:46 PM ET (AP)
Transcript
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NARRATOR: A tornado is a whirlwind that forms in a storm cloud. The highest proportion of tornadoes occur in North America, which has an average of 750 tornadoes per year. Most tornadoes in North America occur in the Great Plains of the United States, where the combination of warm winds from the Gulf of Mexico and cold winds from Canada create ideal conditions for them to form.
Because of their power, tornadoes are particularly dangerous and destructive. These whirlwinds generally last only minutes, but they can destroy everything in their path when they spin at more than 420 kilometers per hour. Tornadoes often don't last long enough to be observed, so they are studied in retrospect by noting the damage they caused. The most powerful tornadoes are also the most deadly. In just a few minutes they can kill several dozen people. Fortunately, only one percent of all tornadoes are this powerful.
[Music out]
NARRATOR: A tornado is a whirlwind that forms in a storm cloud. The highest proportion of tornadoes occur in North America, which has an average of 750 tornadoes per year. Most tornadoes in North America occur in the Great Plains of the United States, where the combination of warm winds from the Gulf of Mexico and cold winds from Canada create ideal conditions for them to form.
Because of their power, tornadoes are particularly dangerous and destructive. These whirlwinds generally last only minutes, but they can destroy everything in their path when they spin at more than 420 kilometers per hour. Tornadoes often don't last long enough to be observed, so they are studied in retrospect by noting the damage they caused. The most powerful tornadoes are also the most deadly. In just a few minutes they can kill several dozen people. Fortunately, only one percent of all tornadoes are this powerful.
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