Can you predict when tornadoes happen?

Tornadoes can be predicted only to a very limited degree. By looking at weather conditions meteorologists can sometimes predict if a large general region might get tornadoes hours or even days ahead of time, but not exactly where or when tornadoes will strike.

On a time scale of minutes meteorologists can often tell if a thunderstorm has the potential to produce a tornado, but still cannot be certain if a tornado will form or exactly where it will go.