Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Tornadoes are violent, twisting columns of air with wind speeds over 100 miles per hour that can tear communities apart. Josh Wurman, an atmospheric scientist, explains that tornadoes develop in a special type of thunderstorm called a supercell, but that there are still mysteries to unravel. "Science Behind the News" is produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.