Tornadoes in America - 15th December 2021

There were lots of tornadoes in the USA. Tornadoes move air in a circle very fast.

States in the middle and the south of the country had problems. The tornadoes broke buildings, cars and electricity cables. President Biden sent them help.

Over 50 people died in the state of Kentucky. 6 Amazon workers died in Illinois.

The tornadoes were worst in Mayfield, Kentucky. Many people lost everything. Mitchell Fowler lost his restaurant.

Mitchell Fowler: "Just, this is our home town, and it's just devastating. Everybody's lost everything. It's, it's just one of those things."

Tornadoes are part of big storms. Tornadoes come when hot and cold air mix together.

Sometimes, computers give tornado warnings. The size of these tornadoes surprised everyone. David Norsworthy lives in Mayfield.

David Norsworthy: "I didn't really think that it would hit. I thought maybe the wind would get up, but we've never had anything like this here, never. The courthouse is torn up - it, it's all torn up. All of Mayfield is, down through there, she tore up - bad."

The tornado hit Mayfield's candle factory. 110 workers were inside. 90 are alive, but 8 workers are dead. Fowler's brother-in-law is in hospital.

Mitchell Fowler: "I had a brother in law that was trapped out in the candle factory all night. They found him this morning - he's still alive. He's do, he's at the hospital, but he's doing OK."

The storm had over 30 tornadoes. One huge tornado travelled 365 kilometres. Scientists are worried. Climate change means more, bigger tornadoes.