A tornado that touches the ground is simply a tornado. Before it touches down it is called a funnel cloud.
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Yes, when a spinning column of air touches the ground, it is called a tornado. Tornadoes are characterized by their rotating funnel-shaped cloud and can cause significant damage in their path.
Tornadoes can vary in width, but the narrowest tornadoes can be as thin as a few meters at the ground. These thin tornadoes are often referred to as rope tornadoes because of their slender and elongated shape.
Hitting the ground is commonly referred to as falling or landing, depending on the context in which it occurs.
Techincally, 100%. If it does not touch the ground it is not considered a tornado. The number of potential tornadoes that do not touch down is not known, as these weaker circulations are often difficult to detect.
No, tornadoes do not have to touch the ground to be considered a tornado. A tornado is considered to be a rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. However, not all tornadoes reach the ground, and those that do are most likely considered more dangerous.