Weather(Tornado) Question

Eaton 18 I grew up in Indiana. March thru May was the time I remember the majority of tornadoes coming thru our area. March thru May is the worse part of the season. June is when its starts to settle down. Anyway a tornadoe can and do happen anyplace and anytime of year,as well as any kind of bad weather.

 

Tornadoes can change directions very quickly, many have died trying to outrun tornadoes when they suddenly changed directions. Also know that sometimes with a large tornado, there may also be smaller ones that you don't see till it's too late.

 

your wroung there get out the truck lay down in the dicth, you never been in a torando have you, first comes the green skys, then the downpour of hurricanes rains blowing up too 89 mph, then follow that by baseball size hail, you think im gonna lay in dicth with all that going on , i probly get washed away as the flash floods hits, no thanks ill run too that house , kick the door in en hope its got a basment , then if still standing and i havent scared her silly ill pay for the damage, hella lot cheaper then my life getting pounded like a rare steak.

 

A radio with weather band can give you somewhat of a heads up. Pay attention to the sky and wind changes.

 

The best thing you can do for yourself is keep yourself aware. Go to radio shack and buy a battery operated, handeld wx radio. These have a "travel" mode and always monitor (switch over) to the strongest station and checks every 60 seconds. Tornado prone regions/times are never a "surprise" and out of nowhere.

Monitor websites such as spc.noaa.gov (sever prediction center in norman) can help to keep you reasonably well informed, typically up to 4 days in advance. Typically tornadoes will develop late afternoon into the night. Traveling at night in the middle of a warned area is probably not a good idea. Lightning activity often increases in the immediate vicinity of a tornado. Hail is usually somewhere in the vicinity of a tornado but most hail events do not produce tornados.

Tornadoes aren't "fast" and they really don't change direction drastically. Yes, the mesocyclones that produce tornadoes typically move northeast and the individual twisters will 'follow along" in a generally "straight line" but to meander from time to time. If you watch a tornado for a bit and can not detect it moving left or right, assume it is more or less coming toward you, and move along. If you're stuck and can't move just try and get as far away from any structures that will easily shed tin and siding.

Along with visible tornados, be aware there typically are very radical winds in the immediate vicinity f a visible tornado as well that aren't necessarily a direct function of the tornado that you can see. Also, the rear flank downdrafts of these mesocyclones WILL produce straightline winds easily in excess of 80 MPH. When you find yourself in one of these. You should try and get stopped and perhaps headed into the wind until these pass in a minute or so. All you can do is use your best judgment in a given situation. Just being near a tornado does not mean you are going to get tossed about, but being within a 1/4 mile of or in one's path then things will get frightening very fast.

These are from a few weeks ago in Oklahoma. I chase storms in the spring. In the first 2, these are perhaps a minute apart and notice how they are alternating in size (recycling). The second pic, I had moved east about 200 yards trying to keep off it's direct path as it slowly moved closer.




just about done for the time being ...


.. Video image capture. This is not zoomed in. I was watching a remnant twister pass about 200 yards away.

 

I saw the result of a CRST van that tangled with a tornado a few years back in Jackson TN - he drove right into it. Threw the loaded van about 300 yards north of I40. Picked up the tractor and threw it a 100 feet. The entire left side of the tractor was crushed, but remained right-side up. The driver didn't make it.

Watch the sky, if you have a NOAA weather band radio - pay attention to the local stations, your AM will start snapping with static when close to lightning strikes. But above all, don't stay in the vehicle.

 

You haven't scanned very hard because I can tell you for a fact I've posted these guidelines in two seperate threads on tornado safety. You just have to read through all the posts. Or you can look at my profile and search for the posts I've made directly. Good luck and be safe!

 

I use to drive dedicated Denver to Topeka... Try that, I bet you won't want to see them anymore, at least not that close.

 

I was going to inquire about the "go into a ditch" thing, but Everett touched upon the question I was going to bring up.

I heard that laying in a ditch, head down, can be an issue. It rains so hard that you'd just float away. Of course, if you insisted and held on to something to stay down, you'd just drown.

Interesting topic though.

 

I understand the worst hazard you face is flying debris. Ever seen a picture of a piece of straw embedded in a tree?