DOCO: Most Powerful Forces on Earth: Tornadoes

They are among the most powerful forces on Earth. With swirling winds of more than 300 miles per hour, and the strength to destroy nearly everything in their path, they account for an average of 60 deaths and millions of dollars in property damage every year.

From the British Isles to the French countryside to Southeast Asia to the heartland of the U.S., twisters have been tearing up the landscape and decimating entire communities in the process. Now, there is growing concern that the number of tornadoes and the regions they encompass may be increasing, due largely in part, to the effects of global warming. Fortunately, advances in science and technology are also on the rise, giving government agencies and broadcasters increasingly more time to warn the public of impending disasters.

In this dramatic episode, we will travel into the eye of the storm with tornado chasers and visit the leading scientists in Europe and the U.S. who are making advances in combating these frightening forces of nature.