Click on images for full size.
 |
A tornado found in Oklahoma on May 22, 1981 where the dust and debris cloud can be seen forming at the surface. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
This tornado is in its later stage and was captured in Seymour, Texas on April 10, 1979. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
On June 2, 1995, this tornado showed up just south of Dimmitt, Texas. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
Alfalfa, Oklahoma saw this tornado on May 22, 1981. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
This tornado, from May 3, 1999, formed from the old part of a thunderstorm system while the new part was being formed. This is called an occluded tornado. It was spotted seven miles south of Anadarko, Oklahoma. Courtesy of OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
This photo of a tornado in its early stage of formation was taken in Union City, Oklahoma on May 24, 1973. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
A different shot of the tornado from Union City in its early stage of formation. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
Here is the development of the previous photo as it shows the same tornado but in its later stage. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
Friends and neighbors try to remove debris around the remains of a farmhouse after the tornado that hit Union City, Oklahoma on May 24th, 1973. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
This is another shot of the damage caused by the tornado in Union City. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
 |
Tornadoes can form over water as well as land. When they form over water, it is called a waterspout. Key West, FL had a waterspout form on July 17, 2002. Courtesy of National Weather Service Forecast Office of Key West/ Brandon Bolinski |
 |
A tornado that was traveling over the open ground of a farm in Carteret County, NC on June 7, 2004. Courtesy of National Weather Service Forecast Office of Newport/Morehead City, NC |
 |
A weak tornado that was seen in Southeast Colorado. Courtesy of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Photo by Linda Lusk |
 |
Damage to the roof of this condo was part of a weak (F0) tornado that swept through Cocoa Beach, Florida in February of 2008. Courtesy of National Weather Service Forecast Office of Melbourne, FL |
 |
This home was damaged by a strong tornado (F3) that ripped through Deland, FL on February 2, 2007. Courtesy of National Weather Service Forecast Office of Melbourne, FL |