Two storms spin. A hurricane's clouds and winds go round. A tornado spins very fast.
A tornado is a column of air. It goes from a storm cloud to the ground.
The funnel you see is tiny water drops. It hangs from the storm. A funnel cloud does not touch the ground.
Tornado Alley is a nickname. It is in the middle of the United States. Storms like this are more common there.
A tornado is small. It can be 100 yards across, or a few hundred.
A tornado comes from a thunderstorm. It often touches the ground for a few minutes.
A hurricane forms over warm ocean water. It is a kind of storm.
A hurricane has a calm, clear center. It is the eye. A ring of storms circles it.
In a tornado warning, a family goes to a basement. A room with no windows is good too. Big open rooms are not best.
When a hurricane is coming, listen to the grown-ups. Follow their plan.
As of November 2026, NOAA crews fly planes into storms. They gather facts for forecasters.
Words to know
- tornado: spinning air
- hurricane: ocean storm
- funnel: spinning cone
- forecasters: weather watchers
