What causes a tornado to form?

Tornadoes form when warm, moist air meets cold, dry air, creating an unstable atmosphere. This instability causes the air to start rotating, especially when strong winds at different altitudes blow at different speeds and directions. If this rotating air column becomes vertical and intensifies, it can form a tornado. Tornadoes are typically associated with severe thunderstorms and can cause significant damage due to their high winds, which can exceed 480 kilometres per hour (300 miles per hour) in the most extreme cases.