variants
or tornados
as in hurricanes
a violent and destructive storm in which powerful winds move around a central point
A siren alerted the town that they were in the path of a tornado. a tornado warning
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Recent Examples of tornadoes
Since reliable record-keeping for Austin weather began in the late 1890s, the region has experienced February temperatures ranging from 99 degrees in 1996, to below zero degrees in 1899, along with heavy snowfalls, destructive tornadoes and large hail.
—
Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
Illinois led the nation in number of tornadoes in both 2023 and 2025 – a huge spike over our long-term average.
—David Yeomans, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
In this land of four seasons, where winter snowstorms can be deadly; spring snow melt can flood entire towns, summer brings tornadoes, and fall might see forest fires, people know the value of human life and kindness repaid.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
From 1992 to 2019, November recorded the most tornadoes of any month, with 89 reported across the region.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
While the severe weather threat may include damaging winds, experts expect fewer tornadoes than last year.
—Brandi D. Addison, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Feb. 2026
Forecasters predict fewer tornadoes than last year, but damaging winds and downpours remain a threat.
—Brandi D. Addison, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026
The freaky happenings in this seemingly antiseptic city include clashes with werewolves, bigfoot, aliens, ghosts, mummies, alternate dimensions, vengeful tornados, and Elvis!
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Oklahoma averages more than 50 tornadoes every year, per the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 29 Jan. 2026
Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
Illinois led the nation in number of tornadoes in both 2023 and 2025 – a huge spike over our long-term average.
—David Yeomans, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
In this land of four seasons, where winter snowstorms can be deadly; spring snow melt can flood entire towns, summer brings tornadoes, and fall might see forest fires, people know the value of human life and kindness repaid.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
From 1992 to 2019, November recorded the most tornadoes of any month, with 89 reported across the region.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
While the severe weather threat may include damaging winds, experts expect fewer tornadoes than last year.
—Brandi D. Addison, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Feb. 2026
Forecasters predict fewer tornadoes than last year, but damaging winds and downpours remain a threat.
—Brandi D. Addison, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026
The freaky happenings in this seemingly antiseptic city include clashes with werewolves, bigfoot, aliens, ghosts, mummies, alternate dimensions, vengeful tornados, and Elvis!
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Oklahoma averages more than 50 tornadoes every year, per the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tornadoes
hurricanes
Noun
-
Drink specials include $6 Lagunitas, $10 hurricanes and $30 Surfside buckets.—
Samantha Nelson,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Many of his song lyrics criticize the ineffective response by the government in Puerto Rico to crises like the hurricanes that have pummeled the island and caused island-wide blackouts in recent years.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tornadoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tornadoes. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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