Why do we seldom hear about tornados forming in Antarctica?
Tornadoes need moist air to rise, as during a thunderstorm. The air in Antarctica is so cold that the water freezes out of the air before a thunderstorm can build. That is not to say it is impossible. A tornado can strike anywhere. The conditions in Antarctica are just rarely conducive to tornado formation. Antarctica does have strong winds, but for other reasons. The places you mentioned can have tornadoes, but they would be rare. The cold air cannot lift enough moisture to create a violent enough thunderstorm to generate a tornado. Cold temperatures make forming a tornado difficult. Warm moist air just isn’t available in this places, especially during the winter time. I hope this helps. Sources: http://www.weather.com/encyclopedia/tornado/form.
