Hurricanes and tornadoes both spin. A hurricane's clouds and winds go round and round. A tornado spins very fast too. It is a column of air. It goes from a cloud to the ground. How are the two storms different?

Tornadoes come from thunderstorms. The funnel you see is made of tiny water drops. It hangs from the storm. A funnel cloud does not touch the ground. If it does, it is a tornado. They can happen anywhere and at any time.

Let us look at how big a tornado is. It is small. It can be a hundred yards across. Some are a few hundred yards across. Most stay on the ground for just a few minutes. The average is about five minutes.

Now look at a hurricane. It forms over warm ocean water. The water must be at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A hurricane has a calm, clear center. It is called the eye. A ring of storms circles the eye. The winds there are strongest.

As of November 2026, NOAA Hurricane Hunter crews fly airplanes into storms. They fly even through the eyewall. They gather facts for forecasters. Their planes drop small probes into the storm. The probes send back readings. They read pressure, humidity, temperature and wind.

A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in and near an area. It usually lasts four to six hours. A tornado warning is different. It means one has been seen or shown by radar. People there should go to shelter right away. Trained spotters tell the National Weather Service what they see.

In a tornado warning, a family goes to a basement. An inside room with no windows is good too. A family may not be told to leave for a hurricane. Then a safe place is a small inside room. A closet or hallway on the lowest level is good too. Listen to the grown-ups in charge.

Words to know

• tornado: spinning air
• funnel: spinning cone
• eyewall: ring of storms
• probes: small tools
• forecasters: weather watchers