As by far the most intense AVE, the tornado essentially acts to energetically flash condense water-vapor into its two primary components, of fresh water and heat energy.

As the condensate falls, heat within the near-vertical vortex column will separate out and rise along the low-pressure, axial core.

Like all atmospheric vortexes, the tornado, is driven by the (~700:1) volumetric collapse that occurs as water-vapor condenses. However, but only if the vortex axis is near-vertical can the phenomenon develop its full energy potential, with a pressure drop of between 40mb-150mb.