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Thunderstorms are the result of instability in the atmosphere. Instability is a condition in which a parcel of air that is lifted remains warmer than its surroundings and continues to rise on its own. This usually requires the air to be moist. Violent thunderstorms generally require a high degree of instability. Such storms usually develop along fronts, or areas where air masses of different temperatures an/or humidities meet. The fronts and associated low pressure provide the lift needed to get the storms started. Another important ingredient is wind shear, or differences in wind speed and direction with altitude. The wind shear tilts the thunderstorms and prevents them from choking on their own rain cooled air, allowing them to last longer and become more intense.

Tornadoes occur in such storms, particularly a class of storms called supercells, when the wind shear causes the storms to rotate. Under the right conditions this rotation can tighten and itensify, developing into a tornado.

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