Power of Tornadoes M ultiple V ortexes A vortex is like a big vacuum cleaner, drawing in air and objects near the ground and sucking it all upward. The most violent tornadoes have multiple vortexes. These vortexes form and die out as the tornado travels.
Subsidiary vortexes are smaller tornadoes that revolve around the parent vortex.
The subsidiary vortexes create strong winds on the ground. There can be as few as three or as many as eight vortexes in or around one large tornado.