Scott Nestor, age 7, of Charleston, W. Va., for his question:     

WHERE DO TORNADOS START?

Tornados can happen anywhere in the world. But most of them strike in our Midwestern states. The whole thing begins when certain winds meet in the cloudy sky. Often there are patches of blue among the ragged gray clouds. Then, here and there, warm and cool winds tangle together. Around they spin, twisting a fistful of cloud into a dark funnel. The funnel dips down like a dangling finger. This is the start of a tornado.    

Other dark funnels may dip down from nearby clouds. Most of them dangle for a while and then fade away. But once in a while, one of them dips right down and touches the ground. Then the terrible tornado strikes, tearing up trees and bashing down buildings. The sudden tornado is soon over. When it strikes a town, many people are left homeless, injured and some may be killed.