What do you do if you spot a twister?

Ok. For the movie, "Twister" soundtrack, Van Halen wrote a ballad called, "Respect the Wind". Crank that 1st. 2nd song I would listen to is Stairway to Heaven, by Led Zepplin. Should make the situation a little more better.

In all seriousness, I would preplan what the weather is going to be along your trip. Esp if you are down here in the south or southern plains, "Most" of the time a local weather service office, (close to the area) have very specific weather information for 2 days out. So, all you would actually need to do is google, NWS Tulsa Ok, or NWS Shreveport, La. and read the forecast discussion. They usually can give you 24 hour notice of what weather they are expecting for a certain area. Can't predict tornados, but if they are talking about the risk of tornados or severe thunderstorms in a particular area, they know it. Plus, they will all have maps with current watches or warnings for storms.
Also, google Storm Prediction Center or SPC. These are the guys at the Severe storm Center in Norman Okla. These guys have even more information, cool maps and and all sorts of useful information right on your phone, iPad, PC or whatever. Also, download a good radar map that you can frequently check on breaks or as you approach severe weather.

Living in the SE corner of Tornado ally, it's not hard to keep current on what you may be face with hours from now, or even currently. I would never try to outrun a storm, unless you can see that it is moving a different direction from you, or it's way off in the distant. But, here is a hint, most tornadic supercell storms, "usually", not always, move either east or northeast. However, they are unpredictable and some can move due south, due north or southeast. But, most generally move in a Northeast fashion.

Just be vigilant and smart and you'll be ok. Good luck out there

 

I recall two incidents.


One just south of Benton, AR. in the 70’s. It was scary because I unloaded at Little Rock driving a cement tanker. It was in the late morning and it seemed dark as night time. There was no good place to pull over and I feared being parked on the side of I-30. I slowed down but kept going and after a few miles it got better.


The other time was out in west Texas. It was not near as dark but the clouds looked very bad. It was raining sideways, blowing across I-10 which made it difficult to stay on the road. I was loaded about 80,000 so that made me feel a bit safer. You could not see the traffic on the other side of I-10 and being daylight most did not turn on their lights. Again I felt it to dangerous to stop on the side for fear of someone hitting me. So again I slowed down staying in the right lane. I remember that time seeing several cars parked on the shoulder of I-10. About 4 miles I ran out of the worst of it and all was well.


I feel most times if you can keep going at a slow speed things will be better but turn your lights on. Parking under and underpass has never seemed to be a safe place to me. Yet you have to do what you think is best for the situation your in.

 

I agree with rank, even though, they say under an overpass is not the best place, it beats being out in the open, as you can get sucked out. These people did it right, got way in the notch of the bridge and I think a truck did get turned around in the video. I've always felt pretty safe in a loaded truck, but if empty, I'd head for a bridge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHBZylcxIvw

 

Yes. This way the cops can come and try to arrest it.

 

Run away, run away!!!

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4576025]I agree with rank, even though, they say under an overpass is not the best place, it beats being out in the open, as you can get sucked out. These people did it right, got way in the notch of the bridge and I think a truck did get turned around in the video. I've always felt pretty safe in a loaded truck, but if empty, I'd head for a bridge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHBZylcxIvw[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that's what I was talking about....getting right into a tight pocket like that.

In reality though, I bet there would never be a bridge like that when you need one. I watched another video or two and now I see why you guys are saying not to park under a bridge. I learned something today. We don't get many tornadoes up here.

 

If you have to lay in a ditch or low spot bring something to protect your head from hail and flying debris. My plan has always been to bring my duffle bag that's filled with clothes to pull over my head if it gets bad.

 

If you're in a densely populated area and there are lot's of traffic on the road, you can probably forget about trying to navigate away from the tornado as traffic will be stupid and you may end up stopped with nowhere to go in the worst possible spot and a sitting duck.

Also from SPC

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html

 

That's when you declare him captain and abandon ship.

 

This brings up another good point. I have never been involved in a serious accident, but I have stopped on more then a few serious accidents such as rollovers that just occurred and one thing you see a lot is people desperately looking for a cell phone that is nowhere to be found as it was "just laying" somewhere at the time of the crash and went flying around in the vehicle, gets busted, lost, thrown out of vehicle into tall grass, etc. Following a crash, not having a cell phone available makes a bad situation much worse.

When I chase, or am driving in dicey conditions, I always make it a point to holster my cell phone and wear it while driving in the event something unfortunate happens. For women, they should leave it secured in their purse or somewhere where it will remain in a violent crash and can be retrieved later. Point is, when you know driving conditions are getting difficult, for whatever reason, pocket and/or secure the cell phone.