10 Tornado Myths Busted

Know Tornadoes? Think Again: 10 Myths

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S​pring's peak in tornado activity can sometimes bring several myths to light about these destructive forces of nature. We are here to help dispel some things about tornadoes that are more commonly misunderstood with a debunking of 10 myths about them.

1. M​yth: All tornadoes have a visible funnel in contact with the ground

This is true for many tornadoes, but sometimes a funnel in the distance might not appear to be on the ground. That's because the tornado has yet to pick up large amounts of debris and/or dust or it hasn't yet developed significant condensation.

2. M​yth: Open all windows when a tornado is threatening your home

Equalizing pressure in a house to keep it from exploding was the basis of this myth. It's useless and you'd be wasting precious time to get to real safety before a tornado strikes. It's the high winds and flying debris that cause damage to structures, not a pressure difference.

3. Myth: There is a "tornado season" in the U.S.

W​hile it's true there is a peak in tornado activity in spring, there is no "tornado season" per se. For some areas of the country, they can strike any time of year, especially in the South.

4. M​yth: You can hear a tornado before it hits

Tornadoes are often described as producing a roaring trainlike sound. But sometimes, that loud sound can be indistinguishable from a thunderstorm that's also producing strong straight-line winds and driving rain. Don't rely on sound or visual clues when in a tornado warning and take shelter until the all-clear is given.

5. M​yth: The downtown areas of major cities are protected from strong tornadoes

T​all buildings do nothing to protect the centers of large cities. Downtown Atlanta's EF2 tornado in 2008 and Fort Worth's F3 tornado in 2000 are both proof. Those twisters caused significant damage to tall buildings in their urban centers.

6. M​yth: The southwest corners of basements or shelters are safest from tornadoes

T​his myth came from the thought that all tornado-producing storms track in a northeast direction, with the idea being that if your home is hit by a tornado, all flying debris would be directed to the northeast away from you. Most tornadoes do travel from some sort of west-to-east direction, but not always southwest to northeast.

T​he best place to seek shelter is an interior room with no windows (possibly a closet, bathroom or hallway) in a basement or the lowest level of your home.

7. M​yth: Tornadoes can't strike the same place twice

That morning, a tornado intensified quickly as it tracked into the city of Cordova, Alabama. Damage there from this tornado was rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. Less than 12 hours later, another long-track tornado approached the city. After weakening west of town, the tornado strengthened quickly as it moved into Cordova, carving a half-mile-wide path of damage rated EF3 in the downtown area.

8. M​yth: Seek shelter under a bridge or underpass if driving when a tornado threatens

Winds can actually be more dangerous there due to the tunneling effect of the bridge over the roadway.

I​f a tornado is coming and you can't make it to a building, the National Weather Service recommends either getting down low in the car and covering your head, or abandoning the vehicle and lying down in a low spot like a ditch or ravine.

9. M​yth: Tornadoes cannot cross bodies of water and mountains

While certain geographic areas can be less prone to tornadoes, they can still travel across mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers. One extreme and recent example happened on June 6, 2000, when an EF1 tornado caused tree damage at an elevation of 9,200 feet in Wyoming's Snowy Mountain Range.

10. M​yth: Larger tornadoes cause the most damage

Statistically speaking, larger tornadoes do often have a higher damage rating, but smaller tornadoes can be strong or violent as well.

"Some small 'rope' tornadoes still can cause violent damage of EF4 or EF5; and some very large tornadoes over a quarter-mile wide have produced only weak damage equivalent to EF0 to EF1," NOAA's Storm Prediction Center says.

Chris Dolce has been a senior meteorologist with weather.com for over 10 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.

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