Tornadoes are the most violent storms on the planet and account for hundreds of deaths worldwide every year. Although tornadoes are dangerous and scary, many people have an interest in these frighteningly beautiful storms. In fact, many people go on storm chases for the chance to spot a tornado in person. Although people are becoming more educated about these powerful storms, many myths about them still survive. Most of these myths are just trivial bits of information that cause no harm, but adherence to some myths can cause injury and cost lives.
One of the biggest myths surrounding tornadoes says that by opening a window in a house can prevent the roof of the house from blowing off or the home from imploding. This idea stems from the fact that the air pressure inside of the vortex of a tornado is extremely low. The myth says that when a tornado hits a house, the sudden differential between the air pressure in the house and the air pressure in the tornado could cause the roof to fly off and the house to implode. By opening a window, homeowners could even out the pressure before the storm hits, preventing the destruction of the residence. This myth is completely false. Tornado research has shown that the pressure differential is not strong enough to cause a house to explode. In fact, the majority of the damage is the effect of debris slamming into the structure. By wasting time to open a window, people are putting their lives at risk by robbing themselves of time to find shelter. Also, being near a window during a storm is one of the worst places to be since debris can fly through easily, sending shards of glass into the air.
Another myth that has dangerous consequences says that when driving and unable to outrun a tornado, one should seek shelter under a highway overpass. Again, this myth is false and can cost lives. This myth stems from home videos of tornado victims that survived a direct impact using this method. In reality, hiding under an overpass is one of the worst places to be in a tornado. The overpass does not provide any shelter at all. In fact, it acts like a wind tunnel, amplifying the velocity of the winds, which can blow people away from the cover of the bridge. Instead, when in a car, drivers should drive at right angles to the path of the tornado. If this is not possible and a tornado strike is imminent, drivers need to exit the car and seek shelter in a ditch or low lying area on the side of the highway, making sure to cover their heads. A car is one of the worst places to be in a tornado, since they can be easily flipped over or lifted off the ground.
There is also a myth that says that when in a tornado, a person should go to the southwest corner of their homes, as this is the safest place to be in the storm. Tornadoes often travel from the southwest to the northeast. The reasoning behind the myth is that since storms travel from the southwest to the northeast, being in the northeastern-most room will mean that a person can get hit by all of the debris from the rest of the house. Therefore, the safest place would be the southwest corner, where there is a minimal amount of structure. Research has shown that in fact, the southwest corner of the home is one of the most dangerous sections of the building. Instead, people caught in a tornado should ideally seek protection in a basement under padding or heavy furniture. If a home does not have a basement, the next safest place to be is in an interior room of the house that does not have windows such as a closet or bathroom.
Finally, some people believe that tornadoes only occur during certain times of the year. While this is true to a certain extent, tornadoes can happen during any month if the conditions are right. Tornadoes primarily occur during the spring and early summer, but a little known fact is that there is a second tornado season, which occurs in the fall. Tornadoes have even been known to strike in winter when conditions were unseasonably warm.
By understanding what is true and not true about the behavior of tornadoes, people can learn how to better protect themselves and survive these deadly storms.