Why do tornadoes spin?
Tornadoes spin because winds blowing different ways make the air twirl around.
Pip’s answer
- Tornadoes spin because winds blowing different ways make the air twirl around.
- Warm air rises into a big storm cloud and stands that spin up tall.
- Like a skater pulling in their arms, the skinnier it gets, the faster it spins.
- Scientists use special tools to watch the spinning safely from far away.
For grown-ups
Tornadoes form in powerful thunderstorms where winds change speed and direction with height, creating a horizontal spinning tube of air. Strong rising air can tilt this spin upright. As the spinning column narrows, it spins faster, like a figure skater pulling in their arms.
Ask your child: How do you think scientists stay safe while studying storms?
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