A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. It forms when warm, moist air near the surface rises and meets cooler, drier air above. This creates instability in the atmosphere, leading to the development of a rotating updraft called a mesocyclone. Tornadoes can vary in size and intensity, with the strongest ones classified as EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. They can cause significant damage, uprooting trees, destroying buildings, and tossing vehicles. Tornadoes are most common in the central United States, an area often referred to as "Tornado Alley."