Science
How Well Do You Really Know Tornadoes?
The most violent storms on Earth — from Tornado Alley to the myths that could kill you.
The most violent storms on Earth — from Tornado Alley to the myths that could kill you.
The United States experiences approximately 1,200 tornadoes per year — more than any other country by a wide margin, thanks to the unique collision of air masses over the Great Plains. This quiz covers 50 questions on tornado formation, the myths that could kill you, the Enhanced Fujita Scale, and history's most devastating twisters.
You'll discover how tornadoes form from supercell thunderstorms, why common survival myths like hiding under highway overpasses are actually deadly, the science behind the Enhanced Fujita Scale, the storm chasers who risk their lives for research, and which country outside the US has the deadliest tornado history.
Tornadoes form from supercell thunderstorms when wind shear creates horizontal rotation in the atmosphere. A powerful updraft tilts this rotation vertical, forming a mesocyclone. When a funnel of rotating air descends from the storm cloud and touches the ground, it becomes a tornado.
No — this is one of the most dangerous tornado myths. Wind actually accelerates as it funnels under the overpass, creating a wind-tunnel effect. People sheltering there are exposed to higher wind speeds and flying debris. A low ditch away from vehicles is safer as a last resort.
The 1925 Tri-State Tornado remains the deadliest in US history, killing 695 people across 219 miles in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. In terms of wind speed, several EF5 tornadoes have produced estimated winds over 300 mph, with the 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado measuring a record 302 mph.
Last updated: March 2026