Editing Tornado (section)

==Types==

===Multiple vortex===
{{Main|Multiple-vortex tornado}}
A ''multiple-vortex tornado'' is a type of tornado in which two or more columns of spinning air rotate about their own axes and at the same time revolve around a common center. A multi-vortex structure can occur in almost any circulation, but is very often observed in intense tornadoes. These vortices often create small areas of heavier damage along the main tornado path.<ref name="SPC FAQ" /><ref name="Advanced Spotter Guide" /> This is a phenomenon that is distinct from a [[satellite tornado]], which is a smaller tornado that forms very near a large, strong tornado contained within the same mesocyclone. The satellite tornado may appear to "[[orbit]]" the larger tornado (hence the name), giving the appearance of one, large multi-vortex tornado. However, a satellite tornado is a distinct circulation, and is much smaller than the main funnel.<ref name="SPC FAQ" />

===Waterspout===
{{Main|Waterspout}}

[[File:Trombe.jpg|thumb|left|A waterspout near the [[Florida Keys]] in 1969.]]

A ''waterspout'' is defined by the [[National Weather Service]] as a tornado over water. However, researchers typically distinguish "fair weather" waterspouts from tornadic (i.e. associated with a mesocyclone) waterspouts. Fair weather waterspouts are less severe but far more common, and are similar to [[dust devil]]s and [[landspout]]s. They form at the bases of [[cumulus congestus]] clouds over tropical and subtropical waters. They have relatively weak winds, smooth [[laminar flow|laminar]] walls, and typically travel very slowly. They occur most commonly in the [[Florida Keys]] and in the northern [[Adriatic Sea]].<ref name="USA Today 1">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/0504tornb.htm|title=Tornado Chase 2000|access-date=2007-05-19|first=Dave|last=Zittel|date=2000-05-04|newspaper=USA Today|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104170204/http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/0504tornb.htm|archive-date=2007-01-04}}</ref><ref name="USA Today 2">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/weather/wspouts.htm|title=Waterspouts are tornadoes over water|date=2007-11-01|access-date=2007-05-19|first=Joseph|last=Golden|newspaper=USA Today|archive-date=2012-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907131453/http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wspouts.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Thomas P.|last1=Grazulis |first2=Dan|last2=Flores |title=The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|location=Norman OK|year=2003|page=256|isbn=0-8061-3538-7}}</ref> In contrast, tornadic waterspouts are stronger tornadoes over water. They form over water similarly to mesocyclonic tornadoes, or are stronger tornadoes which cross over water. Since they form from [[severe thunderstorm]]s and can be far more intense, faster, and longer-lived than fair weather waterspouts, they are more dangerous.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/?n=waterspouts|title=About Waterspouts|access-date=2009-12-13|date=2007-01-04|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|archive-date=2009-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913020610/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/?n=waterspouts|url-status=live}}</ref> In official tornado statistics, waterspouts are generally not counted unless they affect land, though some European weather agencies count waterspouts and tornadoes together.<ref name="SPC FAQ"/><ref name="ESWD definitions">{{cite web|url=http://essl.org/cgi-bin/eswd/eswd.cgi?action=showdefinitions&lang=en_0|title=European Severe Weather Database definitions|date=2012-01-02|access-date=2012-06-11|archive-date=2012-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708073411/http://essl.org/cgi-bin/eswd/eswd.cgi?action=showdefinitions&lang=en_0|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Landspout===
{{Main|Landspout}}
A ''landspout'', or ''dust-tube tornado'', is a tornado not associated with a mesocyclone. The name stems from their characterization as a "fair weather waterspout on land". Waterspouts and landspouts share many defining characteristics, including relative weakness, short lifespan, and a small, smooth condensation funnel that often does not reach the surface. Landspouts also create a distinctively laminar cloud of dust when they make contact with the ground, due to their differing mechanics from true mesoform tornadoes. Though usually weaker than classic tornadoes, they can produce strong winds which could cause serious damage.<ref name="SPC FAQ"/><ref name="Advanced Spotter Guide"/>

===Similar circulations===

====Gustnado====
{{Main|Gustnado}}

A ''gustnado'', or ''gust front tornado'', is a small, vertical swirl associated with a [[Outflow boundary|gust front]] or [[downburst]]. Because they are not connected with a cloud base, there is some debate as to whether or not gustnadoes are tornadoes. They are formed when fast-moving cold, dry outflow air from a [[thunderstorm]] is blown through a mass of stationary, warm, moist air near the outflow boundary, resulting in a "rolling" effect (often exemplified through a [[roll cloud]]). If low level [[wind shear]] is strong enough, the rotation can be turned vertically or diagonally and make contact with the ground. The result is a gustnado.<ref name="SPC FAQ"/><ref name="gustnado AMS">{{cite web|url=http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Gustnado|title=Gustnado|access-date=2006-09-20|publisher=American Meteorological Society|work=Glossary of Meteorology|date=June 2000|archive-date=2007-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181123/http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?p=1&query=gustnado|url-status=live}}</ref> They usually cause small areas of heavier rotational wind damage among areas of straight-line wind damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOAA's National Weather Service - Glossary |url=https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=gustnado |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=forecast.weather.gov}}</ref>

====Dust devil====
{{Main|Dust devil}}

[[File:Dust devil.jpg|right|thumb|A dust devil in [[Arizona]]]]

A ''dust devil'' (also known as a whirlwind) resembles a tornado in that it is a vertical swirling column of air. However, they form under clear skies and are no stronger than the weakest tornadoes. They form when a strong convective updraft is formed near the ground on a hot day. If there is enough low-level wind shear, the column of hot, rising air can develop a small cyclonic motion that can be seen near the ground. They are not considered tornadoes because they form during fair weather and are not associated with any clouds. However, they can, on occasion, result in major damage.<ref name="Handy Weather Answer Book">{{cite book|first=Walter A.|last=Lyons|title=The Handy Weather Answer Book|edition=2nd|year=1997|publisher=Visible Ink press|location=[[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]|isbn=0-7876-1034-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/handyweatheransw00lyon/page/175 175–200]|chapter=Tornadoes|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/handyweatheransw00lyon/page/175}}</ref><ref name="dust devil injury">{{cite web|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ssd/techmemo/sr207.htm|title=Severe Weather Climatology for New Mexico|access-date=2006-09-29|first1=Charles H.|last1=Jones|first2=Charlie A.|last2=Liles|year=1999|archive-date=2018-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021111504/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ssd/techmemo/sr207.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Fire whirls====
{{Main|Fire whirl}}

Small-scale, tornado-like circulations can occur near any intense surface heat source. Those that occur near intense [[wildfire]]s are called ''fire whirls''. They are not considered tornadoes, except in the rare case where they connect to a [[pyrocumulus]] or other cumuliform cloud above. Fire whirls usually are not as strong as tornadoes associated with thunderstorms. They can, however, produce significant damage.<ref name="significant tornadoes"/>

====Steam devils====
{{Main|Steam devil}}

A ''steam devil'' is a [[rotating]] [[updraft]] between {{convert|50|and|200|m|ft|adj=mid|wide}} that involves steam or smoke. These formations do not involve high wind speeds, only completing a few rotations per minute. Steam devils are very rare. They most often form from smoke issuing from a power plant's smokestack. [[Hot springs]] and deserts may also be suitable locations for a tighter, faster-rotating steam devil to form. The phenomenon can occur over water, when cold arctic air passes over relatively warm water.<ref name="Handy Weather Answer Book"/>

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