How do tornadoes form? - James Spann

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-torn...
Tornadoes are the most violent storms on Earth, with wind velocities that can exceed 200 miles per hour. How do these terrifying cyclones form? Meteorologist James Spann sheds light on the lifespan of tornadoes as they go from supercell thunderstorms to terrible twisters before eventually dissolving back into thin air.
Lesson by James Spann, animation by Província Studio.

[@flickchick710]

For anyone who doesn't know the narrator is James Spann also known in Birmingham Alabama as Spann the Man. He is one of the best meteorologists in the United States and when the super tornado outbreak happened on April 27th 2012 he saved thousands of lives (including mine and my husbands) that day by tracking dozens of tornados that were down simultaneously throughout the state. He stayed on the air for over 12 hours that day. This year we had a tornado and he realized on the air that the tornado was headed directly towards his house where his wife was. He stepped out long enough to call and make sure she was safe and came back to continue reporting. He stepped out 20 minutes later to find out that his wife was safe but their house was badly damaged. The man did not stop until the state was in the clear. He's a hero in Alabama and just an all around great man. If your ever in Alabama especially around Birmingham and you try and say something mean about James Spann be prepared for a fight. We're very protective of him around here.

[@constel6573]

i salute him 👏

[@crashfps]

james spann is the reason why earth is more polluted

[@flickchick710]

@@crashfps How so? Please explain I can't wait for this hot take.

[@crashfps]

@@flickchick710 because of him more people are alive and this means more people are polluting the planet so hes done more worse to earth than help it

[@flickchick710]

@@crashfps Yup thought that was where you were heading with that statement. Aren't you so edgy wanting perfectly innocent people to die. God you must be a blast at parties if ya know you were invited to any. How about this why not take yourself out and you'll be one less person polluting the globe.

[@user-cp1vm4tx9p]

My zoom teacher won’t let me in the meeting so I gotta watch this by myself

[@nodonot7929]

That's rough dude

[@upsetrui1357]

oof

[@user-cp1vm4tx9p]

@Kaylee Banks nah I was late

[@xwleine]

@@user-cp1vm4tx9p lol relatable

[@itme1004]

That’s rlly funny I’m sorry 😂

[@chypheirprod9312]

no one: tornado: m i n e c r a f t c o w s o u n d.

[@ProdKunz]

Lmaoooo I thought I was tripping

[@fnafspeed-paints551]

I think that a cow was just stuck dude :/

[@RoadLad]

ikr

[@M.Edits09]

WTF

[@atypicalfanofgodzilla7881]

Moooooooooooo

[@babystepsgarden6162]

Spann the Man! You've been my hero ever since you told the people in a Haleyville trail or park not to wait, but to take shelter. "Go Now!" That was quite a few years ago. You saved many lives that night by trusting your instincts, and doing the job you were called to do. You will always be a hero to me. ❤️ God bless and keep you and yours.

[@Somegoy]

I know it's all serious, but trail or park made me laugh lol

[@sysexstudio]

The narrator's voice sounds exactly like a radio meteorologist. [EDIT, so he IS a meteorologist except on television, thanks everyone]

[@fgossage]

The narrator is James Spann, the chief meteorologist of ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama. You can view some of his tornado coverage video by searching for coverage of the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak.

[@sysexstudio]

Thanks for letting me know.

[@F4FireAndSecurity]

Fred Gossage or the april 28 2014 tornado outbreak

[@109palolss8]

ONE DAY I HEARD THE SOUND OF TORNADO WARNING AND IT COULD HAD HAPPENED CAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING AND IT WAS RAINING REALLY HARD. IT WAS LIKE ABOUT 2:48 IN THE MORNING I WAS REALLY SCARED. P.S. THAT WAS 1 YEAR AGO WHEN I WAS IN 3RD GRADE!

[@joan-angelineconcepcion9675]

And arnold's narrator

[@wakemeupinside5526]

This guy is my local meteorologist

[@caitlyn2124]

same

[@madisonbiehl516]

Caitylovesfrozen8 MSP jejs

[@madisonbiehl516]

Caitylovesfrozen8 MSP disks

[@AlabamaElevators]

Wake me up Inside same

[@jordonmorrisartworks8322]

I wonder if he had his sport jacket off while narrating this video 🤣

[@carlahead5072]

Great video James!! You’re Alabama’s best meteorologist and they’re so fortunate to have you looking out for them!! Keep up the great work and continue keeping Alabama’s residents safe during severe thunderstorms and tornadoes ,like on that horrifying day which is April 27th, 2011.

[@Chloe-zb7tv]

u will not die when it come

[@timbartschwolfman]

James Spann is a good man he helps people in the event of Tornado Outbreak by helping them to prepare and keep them safe

[@sadewiggins680]

tornados are made when hot air and cold play tag

[@xiufenwu3190]

Very funny! Ha ha!

[@nasersaleh3015]

That’s what I hear every time 😂

[@lei965]

That's it but they made it 4:12 long instead of 5 seconds

[@soldierdoggi6640]

@@nasersaleh3015 really?

[@nasersaleh3015]

bubblegum kitty amitnaaq every time I hear a story or something ya that’s what I hear

[@lsmrkqj]

Never experienced a tornado in my life

[@cherryflavored460]

Me neither

[@ivanaltamirano2162]

me neither

[@youcansave15ormoreoncarins75]

same here but can happen

[@lilinglo1107]

me neither

[@DemonHunter-pc8uv]

Never had one hit my house but there was one here before

[@kristiecosta7073]

I was listening and at the end i was like “what the heck just happened”

[@hgbugalou]

James Spann is one of the most 'aggressive' teachers of meteorology in the business and does so much for t he community far outside of his viewing area as a TV weatherman. His sole reason for doing all these new age things like TED-Ed is to teach people understanding of the weather and he know this is how to reach younger viewers. Dude is awesome.

[@dogedoge4547]

You gather a bunch of airbenders in one area and make them bend air in swirls.

[@Rufus_KAI_]

hjlok

[@jameshowes6321]

Jenny Ke

[@kokolopze6421]

Jenny Ke thi

[@gamerrolbox9522]

Jenny Ke

[@destinymagnant3079]

Jenny Ke

[@ColemanCraftFTW]

Mommy, how are tornados born. When your old enough to Jimmy, when your old enough

[@cherryflavored460]

Lol

[@hhollenify]

omg lol

[@CodyCombat]

Mommy when do we learn the difference between your and you're? And when do we learn when it's appropriate to put a question mark or a period?

[@stevenhalliday7297]

+Cody Windsor no wonder your i mean you're dad hated you and beat your mother. ?.,?

[@CodyCombat]

steven halliday Nice meme

[@safir2241]

I think when I was little (like 6 years old or something) I was in the car with my parents & saw a mesocyclone. I was scared to death & kept telling my parents to go back home or park the car. Smart little boy.

[@martymodus7205]

I'd love to see an updated presentation. I'm under the impression that there's been groundbreaking data collection and compelling computer modeling that has refined our understanding of tornado formation since this was made. The fundamentals might not have changed, but added detail would be interesting.

[@lennyface5540]

like what

[@harrisonwest4032]

the stuff specifically about tornadogenesis are completely different now, the whole thing about the rear flank downdraft have been almost completely debunked

[@skiptalbot]

@@lennyface5540 We now know that many if not most tornadoes actually start at ground level. They don't descend out of the storm. This was directly observed with mobile radar and synchronized video on the 2013 El Reno, OK tornado, and is also assumed to be the default mode for non-supercell tornadoes, which stretch pre-existing rotation at the surface. Since the parent updraft is already "surface based", it doesn't need to establish a connection to the ground like the video suggests. Instead, tubes of vertical vorticity are flowing into the storm along a boundary and are amalgamated into a larger vortex below the storm's updraft. When the surface based updraft occludes and contracts, the vortex is stretched, momentum is preserved, and the speed of the flow increases. There's no magic moment where the tornado "touches down". The vortex just continuously increases in intensity at the surface until it starts kicking up dust and debris. That the funnel cloud appears to descend is misleading. It's actually being built downward from below as the pressure continues to drop in the updraft column, which already extends from the surface into the storm's base. To be honest, this whole video should be redone lol.

[@phoenixfire8226]

i know this is an old comment, but yes this video needs updating. tornadoes are caused by wind moving in different directions at different altitudes (wind shear). put a toilet paper roll between your hands (parallel to the floor) and move your hands in opposing directions. the paper roll represents the horizontal tube of air created by wind shear. with proper conditions, warm air entering this system will cause an updraft and take the horizontal shaft created by the wind shear and make it vertical. this elongates the tube of air as it's pushed upwards, and so it begins to spin even more rapidly (imagine pulling in your arms to your body as an ice skater does). conventional wisdom, and everyone on quora, will tell you tornadoes descend from the clouds, but it's simply not true, but the vertical column formed at or near ground level "pulling" the condensation funnel can give that appearance.

[@martymodus7205]

@@phoenixfire8226 yes, Connecticut's Fox61 News has a simple 1 minute video, "how does a tornado form" that describes this process, in short. Given the improvement in data available I'm still surprised there aren't more videos showing this in greater detail and I'd love to see these dynamics illustrated with computer models... And Pecos Hank narrating & soundtracking.

[@miaespinoza3253]

This helped me out with my homework thanks!! I got a 100! My teacher even asked me what I watched or searched so I told her it was this vid!! My class loved it thanks!!!

[@Son1_]

I never knew I could learn so much things in 4 minutes.

[@darknlovli]

Whose watching this after the recent ones in the US? Dec 2021

[@patriciahayes2664]

Meteorologists depend on storm chasers to give them additional information on tornados while those things are on the ground. The storm chasers can observe the locations and actions of the storms and then relay the information back to the meteorologists. In turn, the meteorologists help the storm chasers by telling them what to watch out for regarding the conditions that can spawn twisters. It's a great partnership. 🌪👍😁

[@caterscarrots3407]

Tornados are not the only things that can result from a supercell. They usually form in low air pressure. However there is something called an anticyclone which rotates in the opposite direction as a tornado and looks sort of like an upside down tornado. These form when the air pressure is high.

[@DonkeyFilms]

James Spann is my local news weatherman

[@trickbaby8441]

+DonkeyFilms ... nice!

[@Jaiceyduke]

mine too

[@kale8431]

Hi

[@rafaelafarias3420]

+TORNADO

[@rafaelafarias3420]

+TORNADO

[@lacyaubut6751]

I’m glad you know this because i never would have figured it out.

[@DJ_Dava]

The legendary voice of James spann

[@UWBadgersfan28]

This was a very nice, concise explanation. It was really quite a nice video. Thanks, James!

[@EnsoLLC]

Back then in the Ancient days, people probably think its the Gods being angry.

[@subpoprec]

People still believe that today, only they believe it is one god instead of many.

[@nancyreyna4291]

Jake Long y

[@aray1622]

wow thats deep bro

[@oliversmith7325]

a

[@oliversmith7325]

a

[@katyoutnabout5943]

My town was in a storm like that once. Three tornados in one night. One destroyed all the big, heritage trees in town, among other typical damage, like broken windows, crushed vehicles, powerlines on the ground. My trampoline ended up three houses down the block, in someone else’s yard. Another tornado took out a wall on my grandpa’s new quonset, but left the adjacent old, rickety barn perfectly fine. The last one destroyed everything on my friend’s farm, except for a tiny little lodge they set up for visitors. I particularly remember the next morning, there was an incredible sense of community as everyone helped clean up.

[@denelson83]

0:30 - Spherical cow! Spherical cow! This is not a drill!

[@Scottyd2104]

Woe

[@TheClockmister]

wasn't that a minecraft sound?

[@Scottyd2104]

Yes

[@Thisisquitestupidinnit]

NOOOOOOO

[@gaberangel4909]

Can't imagine chasing tornados. Even an animated version coming towards me made me feel uneasy lol

[@korlu01]

I'm stoned right now and did not catch one word of that

[@snow_bunny_plays-2402]

korlu01 lol

[@ronniechandler3180]

You were stuck on the round cow in tge tornado

[@rileycollins9510]

Big scary air monsters come from supercell clouds and kill people basically

[@Mr.EmeraldTheGreen]

Don’t ware ear plugs when you’re stoned they’ll slow you down

[@47Ru]

lol

[@steadyrhythms9571]

didn't realize james spann did this. he's legendary.

[@emperor_sunshine]

Hey this man's been my weather man since I've been alive, glad to find his Ted talk

[@OMspot2277]

It's rotating the wrong way. Unless of course they're using an anti-cyclonic tornado, which is rare.

[@theflightjunkie4308]

I noticed that too lol

[@obx7272]

They spin counter clock wise.

[@mstalcup]

Or in the southern hemisphere.

[@JamesInKC]

OMTomt8787

[@myguy4w164]

mstalcup that's a hurricane your talking about

[@LIVdaBrand]

I like being a meteorologist. You can look up and see what's going on. saving lives is what it's about.

[@lordcthulhu3589]

I watched this when I was a kid, keep the good work up dude!

[@davinehyai5374]

my teacher made me watch this

[@clio_isme]

Lol

[@carlahead2945]

James,that's a great explanation of tornadoes and I loved the graphics,which helps visualize what's going on.

[@01rai01]

Yes but what about sharknadoes

[@junonovamusic]

rai ZOR Tornado forms over sea near a beach (aka a waterspout), sucks up sharks, and throws them.

[@jfgamerz5532]

rai ZOR chuck norris throw sharks through a tornado

[@gtbsatalks]

rai ZOR its a tornado but instead of cows in it is prople usally see,there are sharks in it instead

[@SuperSirianRigel]

They are created by terrible writers, producers, and directors. Almost always near a low budget studio. XP

[@divisix024]

What about reggaesharknadoes?

[@The-ct1xq]

0:31 listen for the Minecraft cow moo 😂😂😂😂

[@sunbitternsareinurwallz]

GHGJGJGJXJFHDJ 😭😭😭😭😭🤯🤯🤧🤧🤯❓️❗️

[@stellarwind1946]

The thunder at 2:26 startled me

[@pres3356]

This makes a whole lot more sense now!

[@jocelynjovito2490]

It made me laughed when he was distracted by a guy who hitched" are you coming for a ride?" hehehe

[@Kovitlac]

You guys are so brave to do what you do. I won't even glance out the window to see a tornado. They are truly awe-inspiring and terrifying. I'm glad we've been able to learn so much and work to keep people safe, thanks to those like you.

[@theonesemanthatplaysbrutal5192]

0:32: Tornado:Wow!This cow is yummy! Tornado:*eats cow* Cow:MOOOOOOOO!HEEEELLLLLP!

[@funsisters5122]

This is amazing. You actually helped me with my science work. Keep up the good work. This is also helerious

[@davidabram1573]

Nice video. In a supercell tornado one gets rotating rising hot air on the outside and falling rotating cold air on the inside. A good way to mix hot air with cold air. Also they form ground up and cloud down, although most of the time we only notice the cloud bit. It is bits like draining a plastic bottle with water. It is quicker to swirl the water out and let the air in. Tornados die when the cold air in the cloud warms up sufficiently to no longer sustain the vortex.

[@maryjaneayuban1929]

Understandable and very helpful. Thank you sir!

[@anerxu4702]

This is the perfect tofel material for listening practice. With the moving images, I can better memorize the words and phrases, thanks TED!

[@12nerdynerd12]

I'm 16 years old and Iive in Florida and it's been getting 90-100 here so ever night when it starts thundering and lightning loud I instantly start to panic no joke and. Ask I do that think to see how close the storm is from my house it starts to get closer I freak out and I taught learning about it would help but not really

[@Art1611]

I'm from Texas and I get very scared too, sometimes :(

[@michellethenightmaredoll445]

hey at least you don't live in Missouri. where we have tornado Valley.

[@7thFormVoid]

+Michelle Tish You mean tornado alley?

[@michellethenightmaredoll445]

ashwin ajit oops my mistake sorry for that. Thank you.

[@k9command]

nellybell me too, there is a tornado warning going on which is freaking me out. this is super scary

[@nicholastammaro9786]

Thank you so much for this video! I learned a lot, and I'm so interested. It's really fun to learn these storms.

[@pedrohernandez-bm8ln]

This was really helpful to me! Thanks James! I appreciate it! 😁

[@jfreach]

This is so good. I love this channel!:)

[@purplu109]

thanks for helping me pass my science assignment guys :)

[@yumi-fn8ve]

Ahhh the pre covid days

[@chezamaye]

A dog trying to stop a tornado brought me here.

[@Sentient-potato]

Same lol

[@bupropionbarbie]

i’m from tuscaloosa and he was my local meteorologist and i saw him on my station all the time and during the april 27 tornado. i actually had a near death experience and the tornado almost hit DCH regional medical center. i was 7. my mom was at work and i came with her and we all got down on the floor and thought we were about to die and i met him and he came to my school in i think 5th grade. i sat right beside him to his right and i believe i talked to him.

[@WanderingRoe]

Great video, thanks so much for sharing this!

[@Martin_Gregory]

Explanation starts after hype at 1:40

[@Odin029]

+Martin Gregory There's no way to hype a tornado... I mean what could possibly be worse than trying to survive the most terrifying 30 seconds of your life

[@halreinheimer6637]

911

[@patricksummers8890]

Martin Gregory Bbbbbbbb. a. PooiiU

[@mathellman3099]

The tornado on screen is rotating clockwise which would make it an anti-cyclonic tornado in the northern hemisphere

[@EthanBWeather]

James Spann might be coming to Indianapolis for the 2018 Central Indiana Severe Weather Symposium!! I am quite excited

[@aoarashi3025]

There was a miniature dust whirl, about knee-high, on my school sports ground. It lasted about 5 to 10 minutes, and gathered a huge crowd.

[@obsidianwing]

well done

[@vuchaser99]

Graphics are apparently Southern Hemisphere...or the strongest anti-cyclonic tornado I've seen

[@guest2007]

1:30 rising air create tornado, hot air rises, cold air descend. so turning on car during the rain may cause tornado

[@onthesaddle1893]

Ty

[@joycegailmengulloampong1315]

Your videos are good, that's why I've learned a lesson from you... thanks

[@toxic4138]

its called storm chasers

[@alexandradobbs794]

Everyone else knows what a meteorologist is 🤔🇨🇱

[@koibinyan]

Once I was with my best friend. We went out to use my bike. We got to the court and play something like basketball and then A little tornado forms and I don't know how.. There was no thunderstorms or anything like Raining it's just windy.. Really windy

[@princlast2384]

Kkq

[@eschdaddy]

The man, the legend… James Span everyone! There’s 2 legends: Gary England and James Span!

[@mangalgharami4904]

Ted- Ed is always exceptional. I don't know why.

[@broadstreetbullies849]

I'm reading a book about the super outbreak that spann is in. Ur a good bro

[@AliHSyed]

god damn tornados are weird

[@999KMX]

don't make'm mad

[@beanieboogirlcollen8812]

Ali Syed but they kill u so they are not weird

[@wraiththefurry9467]

3:03 GIANT FALSE HERE. When debris is spotted underneath what would be a funnel (this could legit just be dust). Only then would it be a tornado.

[@melissasim8010]

I remember watching a video of a man chasing a tornado. I am not entirely sure that he was the one chasing it, but I was so scared, I started crying for him and hoping he and his friends would live. Luckily he did.

[@Thatlsp]

Here right after passing thru oklahoma

[@oklifrederick1734]

This is incorrect..the rising columns of air are not warm air currents they are actually cold air. We fed all these parameters into a supercomputer and it told us we have been wrong about warm air being the driving force.

[@ajaybhat1161]

Best animation and sound effects ever!!

[@HelloHello-uk8yc]

OMG OMG OMG THIS HELPED ME SO MUCH ON MY HOME WORK AND I HAD FUN WATCHING THIS VIDEO AS WELL!

[@partingofways]

i rather liked the straight facts, the topic was interesting enough as is.

[@jeremylallawmsanga9008]

it's more intresting when it starts with a Quote

[@laquiviahand8077]

Learning something new. Thanks ted ed.

[@MissDJErinB]

James Spann is the man!!

[@allnewluke1]

i had an f3 tornado go super close to my home just one mile away

[@nuttyartist2900]

allnewluke one time thare was a ef4 in my backyard it wrecked hafe of the town I lived in back then

[@freeenergycorporation]

oh ya I was stuck in the el reno f5 twister Boom

[@jessiedrew1779]

They never mentioned that EF5 tornados can have wind speeds of up to 300 MPH!!!!!!!

[@aghaanantyab]

tornado occures when air rises due to condensation that releases heat, but the question is: 1:37 what causes condensation??? storm??? if heat causes tornado, it means that tornado can be developed by burning a forest in a cold weather

[@grazglednica]

my best guess is that's when fire tornadoes occur. check out some vids, they're pretty small but creepy nontheless

[@depressedrobot2491]

When hot air rises, it gets into colder zones of the atmosphere, so it cools down. But you have to remember: The amount ofvapor air can carry depends on the temperature. Colder air can carry less vapor than hot air. So, if the hot, rising air is saturated, water will condense as the air cools down (by rising), releasing heat. This heat will then cause parts of the air to rise even more (causing very high clouds) and condense even more. It's like a chain reaction that happens when large amounts of hot air start rising.

[@naveenpatil9647]

When land heats up.. Air becomes light rises up.. As it rises..because of fall in temperature.. It becomes saturated i.e water holding capacity decreases n condensation occurs.. Simple..

[@gunnerman2118]

Thanks, this was very helpful

[@x4tfxChallenger]

James Spann the man!

[@wii1245]

"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore"

[@alexandradobbs794]

What Is he saying

[@gtbsatalks]

Randomizer22 TheStudentLocal lol,good news,he hasnt tokd you,all good

[@ashishdhaker7616]

wii1245

[@CreeperKiller-qv8zw]

The video is so informative, I am surprised it hasn't taken the world by storm! I love jokes. They really catch people's eyes.

[@croetheconfused]

You must be pretty gusty (gutsy) to throw a joke like that

[@abandonedchannel9970]

I hate jokes

[@georgiastormtrackers8730]

I had no idea this was James Spann. You go James!

[@milespeterson5049]

I really like this animaton! keep up the good work!

[@WyIbert]

Ahhh, James James James... You are awesome...

[@aquarispoot]

Okay, so when a warm front and a cold front love each other very much.....a tornado is formed. I am sorry. I'm out.

[@grahamshields821]

That was very handy, just what I needed to know THANKS HEAPS BOY THEM TORNADOES ARE JUST TO FRIGHTING TO IMAGINE THANK YOU LINDA AUSTRALIA

[@bl7zer]

Me: i love watching tornadoes! Tornado: but do u like seeing me?

[@soplet6121]

I watched the movie "Twister" when I way a boy. I watched the Discovery channel program "Stormchasers" when I was a college student. Nevertheless, it's not has been explained yet, really?!

[@louisn7773]

I love learning about nature

[@animationpoint4621]

Very nice explained!

[@TaeDaDemon94]

Waiting always watching to see if the parent storm Drops it’s long rope again it’s very important to factor when it comes to storm chasing especially if you’re a beginner in the last 25 years majority of all tornadoes have had the characteristics of spawning another tornado from the same supercell After the previous one has been pulled up

[@liamsouth1511]

James Spann the weather man ( from Rick and Bubba)

[@genoavangelo9187]

ok now do fire tornadoes

[@junonovamusic]

Geno Avangelo Fire tornadoes form from when a tornado hits a spot of fire and sucks up the fire.

[@psyffee3755]

Some Random Dude Close enough.

[@FATTYBONGRIPS]

@@junonovamusic no

[@mikelaffosse3233]

James spann, greatest weatherman ever!

[@arandompika6879]

i love how the van looks like the mystery machine