The following passage from the document contains multiple links embedded in the text: "Tornadoes are narrow, violently rotating columns of air, connecting the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. They affect communities across the United States every year and can cause fatalities and injuries, destroy property and crops, and disrupt businesses. A May 2025 weather system produced over 90 reported tornadoes ('Figure 1'), high winds, and large hail and caused multiple deaths and injuries across the Midwest and Southeast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the primary civilian federal agency with authority to issue severe weather forecasts and warnings. Congress may debate whether to direct the agency to take additional actions related to tornado forecasting, detection, and communication in light of recent and potential future storms. Exactly how and why tornadoes form is not completely understood. Tornado formation is believed to be dictated mainly by conditions in and around thunderstorms with well-defined circulation. Tornadoes have been reported on all continents except Antarctica. They are common in North America, particularly in the United States, which reports approximately 1,200 tornadoes per year dating back to the 1950s."