Tornadoes can be very violent. Tornadoes are also called twisters and are a rotating column of air That forms under thunderclouds. Tornadoes can reach speeds of 300 mph. Very powerful tornadoes can lift mobile homes and cars easily. A cyclone refers to all spiral shaped windstorms. On rare occasions cyclones spin in the opposite direction of it's regular path. Tornadoes usually last only a few minutes, go less than 35 mph, and do damage 1,600 feet wide. Where some do damage a mile wide, reach 60 mph, and blow for more than an hour.