Omaha, NE - Tornadoes can hit without warning. They rip trees to shreds and crush homes. Now a breakthrough program may help scientists crack the code on predicting tornadoes. Vortex2 is the beginning of what may be one of the most significant weather programs ever.

One-hundred scientists along with students from ten universities are preparing to embark on a tornado hunt they call Vortex2. On Sunday, the teams will dispatch more than 40 research vehicles including ten mobile radars to places severe weather is most likely to develop.

Oklahoma University student Owen Sheikh says, "there's many different theories on why tornadoes form. None of them work all the time. So we're trying to figure out what the missing link."

That missing link could help forecasters predict where and when twisters are likely to form. Doing that will give meteorologists and the public more time to seek shelter from the wicked weather. 

The Weather Channel will document the entire five week chase. You can follow their progress at http://www.vortex2.org/home/.