What Is the Difference Between a Hurricane and a Tornado?

The main difference between a hurricane and a tornado is that hurricanes form over warm water while tornados form over land. The largest tornado ever recorded was 2.6 miles wide, while hurricanes can measure over 1,000 miles wide.

Another difference between a tornado and a hurricane is that a hurricane can last up to three weeks long, while the most severe tornadoes usually last no more than an hour. The winds in a hurricane can reach speeds of up to 180 miles per hour, and tornado winds can exceed wind speeds of over 300 miles per hour.