I admit that I was more than excited about the recent opening of the new “Twisters” movie. I bought tickets ahead of time to ensure good seats for my family and me. Once the movie started, I found myself fact checking all of the messages being delivered through the big screen.
Fire tornadoes, sheltering under an overpass and taming a tornado are all concepts brought to life through Hollywood’s depiction of these natural disasters. Luckily, the scientists at NOAA and the National Severe Storms Laboratory were involved in consulting the director and staff on the film to make it as accurate and realistic as possible. The cast even got a tour of the National Weather Center in Oklahoma in preparation for production.
Now, with the big release, it’s time to make sure people know the difference between what was shown in the movie and the what science tells us really happens. Without spoiling the movie for those who have not seen it, here is some context for the scenes that need clarification.
Fact Check #1: Seeking shelter
Are overpasses a safe place to shelter during a tornado?
During one of the first scenes, the main characters find themselves on a rural road with few places to shelter. They seek shelter under an overpass even though one of the characters voices that this is not safe. So, is it safe to shelter under an overpass if you find yourself with few options?
No. Overpasses are one of the worst places to seek shelter from a tornado.
So what should you do instead? If you are driving, pull over and, if possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If there are no buildings around, stop your vehicle, park, keep your seatbelt on, put your head down below the windows and cover your head to protect it from flying debris.
If you think you can get down below the level of the roadway, exit your vehicle, lie flat in that area face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.
Unfortunately, none of these are guaranteed to keep you safe, so being aware of the weather so you can plan to be in a sturdy and safe structure during a tornado is a much better option than being on the road to begin with. For more information on seeking shelter, watch this video from NOAA’s National Severe Storms Lab.
Also, know where to find your safe spot should a tornado watch or warning be issued. Think about options for if you are at home, at work or on the road. See this article for tornado sheltering tips.
Fact Check #2: Taming a tornado
Is it possible to stop or slow down the formation of a tornado?
One common story line in the new “Twisters” movie is that a team of scientists are trying to find ways to terminate or disrupt the tornado. There are a series of things, which includes adding chemicals to the vortex, that are tried throughout the movie. Can we do this in real life? If so, how effective is it?
No. Unfortunately, we cannot stop a tornado from forming.
Tornadoes are complex systems and contain a lot of energy. Even if there was a way to dissipate the tornado with some kind of chemical, there is no way to have enough of that chemical to make a difference nor to deploy it with enough speed and precision to “kill” a tornado. In addition, the chemicals could do more harm than good if released into the atmosphere. Also, attempting to disrupt the energy balance of the earth and its weather patterns could have dire consequences.
Rather than trying to tame a tornado, we should build resiliency to withstand these natural disasters. You can be proactive in preparing yourself for a tornadic event. Be weather aware: make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. For example, have a weather app on your phone so you are notified when bad weather is coming, keep a weather radio at home to receive alerts specific to your location, watch the news for the latest updates, and have a friends-and-family network that will call you if action is needed to shelter. Also, make a weather plan for you and your family so you know where to go and when in an emergency. You can find fillable forms to make a plan online.
For more information on taming a tornado, watch this video from NOAA’s National Severe Storms Lab.
Fact Check #3: Fire tornadoes
Can fire spawn a tornado?
During the movie, a tornado passes over an oil and gas refinery and the result https://youtu.be/Yqv_GmlQTIQis a fire cloud that spins into a tornado funnel that continues to circulate. My first thought was "is that possible?" Is there such a thing as a fire tornado?
Yes (but not from an oil and gas refinery). There have been cases where extreme heat from an existing wildfire causes the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
In 2018, the Carr Fire outside of Redding, California spawned a fire tornado or firenado. This is a rare phenomenon and was only the second firenado in recorded history (the first was recorded in Australia). If wildfires get big enough, they can create their own weather. The Carr Fire tornado was formed due to the speed of the southern storm cell’s updraft. Estimated winds of 143 mph, equivalent to an EF3 tornado, developed within the Carr Fire and stayed on the ground for 30 minutes toppling transmission towers, debarking and uprooting trees.
For more information about fire tornadoes, watch this video from NOAA’s National Severe Storms Lab.
If you are interested in learning more about tornadoes and their activity in the Southeast, sign up for our VORTEX-SE Outreach and Engagement newsletter at the bottom of this page here:
I encourage you to get out and see the new “Twisters” movie and let me know if you have any other facts you’d like to see checked.
Meet the author
Tracie Sempier, Ph.D.
Resilience Engagement Lead
Tracie Sempier serves as the resilience engagement lead at Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. She engages with communities to help them become more resilient and works to decrease negative impacts of... Read more
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