A tornado is one of nature's most violent storms. The wind speed can reach over 200 miles per hour and the tornado can damage a path of up to 50 miles wide! The twirling column of air, known as a funnel, develops from a thunderstorm cloud and continues downward toward the ground. It becomes a tornado when the funnel touches the ground. Every year homes and businesses are destroyed and people are injured by tornados. Even though we can't control the path of a tornado, we can get to safety if we know a tornado is coming. Early warning of when a tornado arrives will help people prepare for storms and seek shelter. The GIFTS instrument will collect data to help scientists predict where and when a tornado could arrive. It will provide nearly up-to-the-minute information on conditions such as developing hurricanes and tornadoes which in turn could save lives.   Here is a tornado you can "create" at home.