A violent windstorm is a powerful and destructive weather event that can cause significant damage. The three most common terms for a violent windstorm are TWISTER, TEMPEST, and TORNADO. A TWISTER is a rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud. A TEMPEST is a violent storm with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, and lightning. A TORNADO is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud, and is often accompanied by a funnel cloud.