For some people, driving during a tornado is a lifetime dream while for others, it’s pure, terrifying chaos. Tornadoes can form suddenly and cause unimaginable destruction. If you get caught in a tornado while driving, we have important information you need to know.
What Is Tornado Alley?
First, let’s talk about location. In the U.S. tornadoes are likely to occur primarily east of the Rocky Mountains. Tornadoes often occur in what is known as Tornado Alley. Tornado Alley, which is a term that was first used in 1952 for a research project, is a region of the center of the U.S. and Canada where tornadoes frequently occur.
Tornado Alley includes the following states:
- Texas
- Louisiana
- South Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
Since there are no defined boundaries for Tornado Alley, it can also include the following states:
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Indiana
- Missouri
- Illinois
- North Dakota
- Montana
- Ohio
- Arkansas
- Eastern portions of Colorado and Wyoming
However, you should note that tornadoes can occur anywhere and at any time. Tornadoes are more likely to form during the spring and summer months for most states.
What Causes Tornadoes?
When severe thunderstorms occur, the conditions are right for a tornado. Although tornadoes can form suddenly, they require specific atmosphere conditions, which makes paying attention to weather reports imperative.
Supercell Thunderstorms
Many tornadoes are formed from supercell thunderstorms. These storms are large, rotating thunderstorms that have a well-defined circulation known as a mesocyclone. Supercells are also known to produce large, damaging hail, lightning, high winds, and flash floods.
Ingredients for Tornado Formation
The following are the ingredients for tornado formation:
- Moisture: warm and humid air near the ground is a common factor for tornado formation. Moist air rises within the thunderstorm.
- Instability: the atmosphere needs to be unstable for a tornado to form. When warm, moist air rises, it cools and condenses, which releases latent heat. This process fuels updrafts.
- Vertical Forcing: this is upward motion in the atmosphere, which is caused by frontal boundaries or other weather systems, which is necessary to initiate storm development.
- Wind Shear: wind shear is the change in wind speed and/or direction with height. Wind shear plays an essential role in creating the required rotation within a storm.
Air Rotation
Air rotation occurs within the thundercloud. Air currents begin to spin in a horizontal motion because of a combination of different factors. As the storm increases in severity, the spinning currents can turn vertically and descend from the cloud, thus forming a tornado.
Ground-Level Rotation
For a tornado to completely form, there needs to be spinning air near the ground, which occurs when air within the storm sinks to the surface and expands across land. Warm air rises while cool air sinks, which creates rotation near the ground.
When spinning air is drawn inward toward the axis of rotation, the speed increases. Think of a figure skater when they spin faster and their arms are drawn in. This motion is known as the conservation of angular momentum. The rotating air can tilt vertically by the force of air that is rising and rotating, which allows a tornado to develop.
What’s the Difference Between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning?
You need to know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning so you know the next steps you need to take. A tornado watch is issued to areas when conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms, which could result in a tornado forming. Tornado warnings are issued when a tornado funnel has been sighted or is most likely to form based on radar information.
What Are the Warning Signs of a Tornado?
Although tornados can occur at any time, they often occur during the late afternoon and early evening, from 3 PM to 9 PM. In general, tornados do not last longer than 10 minutes. Here are signs you can look for to determine the chances of a tornado forming:
- Dark, greenish sky
- Wall clouds or an approaching cloud of debris
- A loud roar that sounds like a train
- Sighting of a funnel cloud not in contact with the ground
- Large hail (often occurs without rain)
Dos and Don’ts of Driving in a Tornado
If you receive an emergency alert or see a tornado forming on the horizon, you need to know what to do. Here are the dos and don’ts of driving in a tornado.
Dos of Driving in a Tornado
- Tune in to weather reports or use a weather app
- Seek shelter in a sturdy structure (such as a bank, restaurant, or a room without windows)
Don’ts of Driving in a Tornado
- Don’t try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle
- Don’t hide under your vehicle
- Don’t park under an underpass
If shelter is not available, quickly find the nearest ditch or a low-lying area and lie flat on the ground. Be sure to cover your head with your arms. Tornado winds can accelerate through an underpass, which makes it more dangerous than an area that is out in the open. Hide in a basement or a first-floor room, such as a bathroom.
Other Tips for Staying Prepared for a Tornado
First, you need to make sure you are tuned in to severe weather alerts. When you see dark clouds moving your way, check weather reports and watch out for severe weather warnings. If there is a risk of a tornado, plan to avoid traveling in your vehicle when there’s a tornado in the forecast.
If you need to travel during a time when there’s a chance of a tornado, make sure you’re tuning into a radio station or severe weather update service to receive current alerts about developing tornado activity. Some states, especially tornado-prone areas, such as Tornado Alley, have severe weather information updates or alert systems you can use to check for updates.
Have a Plan
If you’re worried because you live in a tornado-prone area, it will help tremendously if you have an emergency plan. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, you need to establish a check-in protocol with your loved ones and have an agreed meeting point after the tornado passes. You should also consider locating large, sturdy buildings along the routes you travel often that allow you to take shelter if you’re in a vehicle when a tornado forms.
Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs of a Tornado
Remember that not all tornadoes are visible. Some tornadoes don’t have a funnel, and other tornadoes camouflage in heavy precipitation. In addition to the common visible signs of a tornado, such as swirling dust on the ground and strong cloud rotation, you may benefit from using your other senses.
Did you know that a rumbling sound that lasts longer than a normal rumble of thunder is a tornado warning sign? Heavy rain followed by silence and calm, or a sudden, intense shift in the wind is another indication of a tornado.
What Do I Do If I’m in a Car During a Tornado?
Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not the ideal situation, but it happens. If you find yourself in this situation, make sure you’re taking steps that keep you safe. It’s easy to be afraid and let fear dictate your next steps. However, thinking out of fear and confusion can lead to making irrational decisions, and this is something you want to avoid.
Seek Shelter
If you spot a tornado that is far away or still in the process of forming, head to the nearest sturdy building. Get underground if you can.
You Can’t Outrun a Tornado
Don’t try to outrun the tornado. Regardless of how much horsepower your car has, it’s no match for Mother Nature. Instead, find the nearest shelter or a sturdy building, such as an office building rather than trying to outrun the tornado to get home. Try to drive at right angles to the tornado’s path to avoid it.
Avoiding Using an Overpass or Bridge As a Shelter
If you can, get to lower ground. Lower ground is noticeably lower than the level of the road, such as a ditch. Cover your head with your hands. Seeking shelter under overpasses and bridges can expose you to high-speed winds and flying debris.
Remain Calm
Mother Nature can be scary, and a tornado is nothing less than frightening. However, try to remain calm and think clearly, so you can make the best decisions for your situation. Don’t worry about material belongings that you can replace, such as your car, home, and other objects. These items can be replaced, but you can’t!
Avoid heavily damaged buildings, even if it’s your house, if you need shelter once the storm passes. Structures that sustain heavy damage become unstable and can collapse at any time.
Pay Attention to Your Surroundings After the Storm
Once the storm passes, there will be destruction left behind. If you’re sifting through debris or helping your neighbors, pay attention to your surroundings, Avoid downed power lines and areas that are littered with debris because they can hide different hazards, such as broken glass and live electrical currents.
Driving in Tornado Key Takeaways
Driving in tornadoes is dangerous and should be avoided whenever possible. Tornadoes produce strong winds, and flying debris, and are unpredictable.
It’s important to stay informed and pay close attention to weather forecasts and warnings. Remember that tornadoes are unpredictable and their path can change at a moment’s notice. If a tornado’s path changes, you’ll need to change your plans accordingly.
If you have a plan, stick to it. If you don’t have a plan, create one for you and your loved ones. Create a checklist to ensure you have everything you need if you have to leave your home. You should have at least two alternative routes in case a tornado is traveling down one of them. If you receive a tornado warning while traveling in your vehicle, seek shelter in a sturdy building or underground if possible. You should never try to outrun a tornado.
Try to remain calm. If you are not able to find shelter or you encounter a tornado while in your vehicle, resort to the safest, fastest option, such as a low-lying ditch. Don’t hesitate to abandon the vehicle. Lie flat and cover your head to protect yourself from flying debris.
Contrary to popular belief, overpasses are not safe shelter scenarios during a tornado and can be more dangerous because of the tunneling wind effect. You should also avoid using trees as shelter. If you are forced to stay in your vehicle during a tornado because you can’t find shelter, don’t park your car under trees or other large objects, as these items can become projectiles in high-wind scenarios.
Always wear your seatbelt while operating a motor vehicle, especially in severe weather. Wearing your seatbelt can help prevent serious injuries if your vehicle is overturned or impacted by debris. If you have a tornado warning for your area, chances are you have already noticed a change in the weather. Turn your hazard lights on and stop in a safe spot on the side of the road if visibility becomes a problem. Your hazard lights will ensure other drivers can see your vehicle.
The best way to stay safe during a tornado is to seek shelter in a building that is sturdy and in a room that doesn’t have windows. Always play it safe. Stay aware and alert. Be safe out there!