The US experiences around 1,200 tornadoes a year. Impress your students with this atmospheric science resource, which explains how tornadoes are formed, why some turn into supertornadoes and why scientists are creating simulations of them on supercomputers. Included is a summary of a current research project, an interview with atmospheric scientist Dr Leigh Orf and a career guide for students interested in atmospheric science. The activity sheet includes discussion points – seven questions the students can answer in groups of individually – links to videos of Leigh’s simulations and instructions on how to carry out a simple experiment in atmospheric pressure.