It is generally believed that tornadic wind speeds can be as high as 300 mph in the most violent tornadoes. Wind speeds that high can cause automobiles to become airborne, rip ordinary homes to shreds, and turn broken glass and other debris into lethal missiles.

Do tornadoes have the strongest winds?

At peak intensity, tornadoes have the highest wind speeds. Mobile Doppler radars have remotely measured tornado wind speeds as high as 318 mph in a twister near Bridge Creek, Okla., on May 3, 1999. ... The strongest sustained winds observed in tropical cyclones seem to peak around 200 mph.

How does wind affect tornadoes?

Tornadoes form when warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air. The denser cold air is pushed over the warm air, usually producing thunderstorms. The warm air rises through the colder air, causing an updraft. ... Cool air fed by the jet stream, a strong band of wind in the atmosphere, provides even more energy.