1. Tornado: A violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. It is characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud, high winds, and often heavy rain or hail.
2. Funnel Cloud: A visible rotating column of condensed water droplets or dust that extends from a thunderstorm cloud. It is a precursor to a tornado, but it may dissipate without reaching the ground.
3. Mesocyclone: A rotating column of air within a thunderstorm, often extending several miles above the ground. It is the parent cloud that produces tornadoes.
4. Supercell: A powerful thunderstorm with a rotating updraft. These storms are most likely to produce strong and long-lasting tornadoes.
5. Fujita Scale (F-Scale): A scale used to classify the intensity of tornadoes based on the damage they cause. It ranges from F0 (weak) to F5 (violent).