Debunking Tornado Myths: Separating Fact From Fiction
Tornadoes are more common in the United States than in any other country, with an average of 1000 tornadoes yearly.
Despite how frequently tornadoes occur in the United States and despite meteorological advances, many myths about these devastating forces of nature still exist. Believing in tornado misinformation can be deadly, leading to dangerous decisions that could put lives at unnecessary risk.
Understanding tornado facts and dispelling common myths is essential to ensuring preparedness and safety. This blog aims to debunk widely held tornado myths, shed light on science-based data, and provide actionable steps for better protection during severe weather.
10 Common Tornado Myths and the Facts Behind Them
Myth 1: Tornadoes Don’t Strike Big Cities
Tornadoes avoid large metropolitan areas and only impact rural areas.
Fact:
First on our list of tornado myths and facts is a common misconception: that tornadoes only happen out in the country. However, tornadoes can and do strike urban areas. While it might seem like tornadoes hit rural locations more often, this is primarily because rural areas cover more land.
Cities are not immune to tornadoes—history has shown that they can and will devastate densely populated regions. For instance, in 2020, an EF3 tornado from a tornado outbreak hit Nashville and Mount Juliet, resulting in several deaths and over a billion dollars in damage.
Recommended Action:
Always have a tornado emergency plan, whether your property is in a bustling city or a quiet rural town. Review your building’s structural integrity, ensure compliance with local safety codes, and consider installing a tornado shelter. This is particularly important for commercial buildings where many lives could be at stake.
Myth 2: You Should Open the Windows During a Tornado
Opening windows during a tornado will prevent your house from “exploding” due to air pressure changes.
Fact:
This is one of the most dangerous tornado myths. Opening windows does nothing to equalize pressure and can actually expose your home to more damage by allowing debris and wind inside. Tornadoes cause destruction through intense winds, not air pressure changes.
Recommended Action:
Don’t waste precious time and risk your safety by opening windows. Instead, immediately head to a safe room, basement, or storm shelter. If a basement isn’t available, a small interior room on the lowest floor is a good alternative.
Myth 3: Tornadoes Only Happen in the Spring
Tornadoes are strictly a spring phenomenon.
Fact:
While tornadoes are more common in spring due to warmer temperatures and increased storm activity, they can happen at any time of the year. Tornadoes have been reported in all seasons, particularly in regions with favorable conditions for their development.
For instance, Texas and Oklahoma see the most tornadoes per year. This is because the atmospheric conditions in the Great Plains region are conducive to supercell thunderstorms—the kind that spawn tornadoes.
Recommended Action:
Don’t let your guard down just because it’s not spring. Ensure that your tornado safety plan is prepared, and sign up for weather alerts to keep you updated on tornado warnings.
Myth 4: You Can Outrun a Tornado in Your Vehicle
If you’re caught outside, the best strategy is to outrun the tornado in your car.
Fact:
Tornadoes are unpredictable and can change direction or speed without warning. According to experts, a tornado can move slowly or appear stationary before suddenly moving at 60 miles per hour or faster.
Vehicles are not safe during a tornado, as they can be easily lifted and tossed by strong winds. Attempting to outrun a tornado in your car puts you in more danger, especially on a crowded road or highway.
Recommended Action:
If you’re in a vehicle and a tornado is imminent, do not try to outrun it. Instead, look for a sturdy building where you can take shelter. Avoid highways and overpasses—as mentioned, they create wind tunnels that can amplify tornado strength. Always plan alternate routes to safety.
Myth 5: If a Tornado Is Approaching, Go to the Southwest Corner of the Building
The southwest corner of a building is the safest spot during a tornado.
Fact:
This is one of the more outdated tornado myths. In reality, the safest place is a small, reinforced room, such as a bathroom or closet, located near the center of the building and on the lowest floor. If you have access to a basement or storm shelter, that’s even better.
Recommended Action:
Familiarize yourself with the safest places in your home or business and designate a room for tornado safety. If possible, install a tornado shelter or safe room designed to withstand extreme winds. Regularly practice tornado drills to ensure everyone knows where to go and what to do in an emergency.
Myth 6: Tornadoes Always Form Funnel Shapes
Tornadoes are always visible as funnels, so it’s easy to identify them even from afar.
Fact:
This is not always true. Tornadoes typically feature funnel clouds, also called condensation funnels, that develop from a cumulonimbus cloud base. However, while many tornadoes have visible funnels, some do not. For instance, some tornadoes are rain-wrapped or obscured by rain. Even tornado experts can have a hard time identifying a rain-wrapped tornado.
Additionally, “wedge” tornadoes don’t look like typical funnel-shaped tornadoes. Instead, they’re as wide at the base as they are tall. Some wedge tornadoes are so massive that they look like large, swirling masses of clouds rather than typical funnels.
Recommended Action:
Don’t rely on visual cues to determine whether a tornado is nearby. Instead, educate yourself by reading up on tornado facts and signs that one is on the way, such as:
A loud roar or an odd silence immediately after a thunderstorm
Debris falling from the sky
Large hail
You should also stay informed through weather alerts, warnings, and advisories. When a tornado warning is issued, head to your designated safe area without delay, even if you can’t see the funnel.
Myth 7: Tornadoes Avoid Hills and Mountains
Tornadoes won’t form in areas with hilly or mountainous terrain.
Fact:
Although they may be more frequent in flatter areas, tornadoes can and do occur in hilly or mountainous regions. The terrain does not prevent tornado development.
Recommended Action:
If you live in or near a hilly or mountainous area, prepare for tornadoes as you would in any other region. Ensure you have a safety plan, and consider investing in a weather radio or using an app to stay informed about weather conditions.
Myth 8: Driving at Right Angles to a Tornado Will Help You Escape
If you’re driving and spot a tornado, the best way to escape is to turn and drive at a right angle to the storm’s path.
Fact:
This is one of the more dangerous tornado myths that have been around for many years. However, it has no basis in fact. Tornadoes are unpredictable and do not always travel in straight lines.
Trying to outrun a tornado by driving at a right angle is dangerous for several reasons:
- You can’t know the direction in which the storm will move.
- Roads can curve unexpectedly.
- Visibility can be severely impaired by rain and debris.
Additionally, multiple tornadoes can form within a storm system, so you might end up driving into one as you try to escape another.
Recommended Action:
The safest course of action is to find a sturdy building nearby and seek shelter inside on the lowest level, away from windows. If no shelter is available, exit your vehicle and lay flat in a low-lying area, covering your head and neck to protect yourself from flying debris. Avoid areas prone to flooding.
Myth 9: Overpasses Offer Safe Shelter During Tornadoes
Taking shelter under an overpass will protect you from a tornado.
Fact:
Overpasses can actually make things more dangerous by creating wind tunnels that intensify a tornado’s winds. People sheltering under overpasses are at risk of being struck by debris or swept away.
Recommended Action:
Never seek shelter under a highway overpass. If you’re caught outside, try to find a sturdy building or a low-lying area, such as a ditch, and cover your head and neck with your arms. It’s always better to seek shelter indoors if possible.
Myth 10: Tornadoes Only Last a Few Minutes
Tornadoes dissipate quickly.
Fact:
While most tornadoes last only a few minutes, some can last much longer—up to an hour or more—and travel significant distances. The damage caused by long-lasting tornadoes can be widespread and severe.
Recommended Action:
Never underestimate a tornado’s potential to cause damage. If a tornado warning is issued, take cover immediately and remain in your shelter until authorities give the all-clear. Ensure you have a weather alert system to notify you of any changes.
Mitigate Risk and Get Peace of Mind With a Tornado Safe Room
Debunking these tornado myths is critical to improving safety and preparedness during severe weather. With an accurate understanding of facts about tornadoes and how to act in an emergency, homeowners and businesses can take proactive steps to protect themselves and others.
One of these steps is to ensure there’s a safe place in your building or home that can provide protection against tornadoes. Lone Star Safe Rooms offers customizable and competitively priced safe rooms designed to withstand F5 tornadoes with wind speeds in excess of 260 miles per hour.
Lone Star Safe Rooms have been tested by the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University to meet FEMA 320/361 standards and ICC 500 building code requirements. Additionally, we can report your GPS location at no additional cost to your local emergency services. This helps them find your location if you need rescue.
Learn more about Lone Star Safe Rooms and their features. Contact us today.