Like they probably said right before the clip starts--Don't Do This At Home. Or on the road, or in Kansas. Keep moving if you can travel away from it. It may have been a "baby tornado", but it had no trouble spinning a van around (see 1:12-1:15). Take a SkyWarn class if you wanna go looking for them while providing a service to your community. See your local weather service office for details

the narrator is right about if it was a stronger tornado, you would have been sucked out. I mean, that tornado was so small it didnt even move the vehicles on the road that were less than 40 yards from it.

Looks to me like they had time to out run it, unless their car's rev limiter kicks in at 95...

why did they not drive the other way?

From http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ddc/?n=over

Many people mistakenly think that a highway overpass provides safety from a tornado. In reality, an overpass may be one of the worst places to seek shelter from a tornado. Seeking shelter under an overpass puts you at greater risk of being killed or seriously injured by flying debris from the powerful tornadic winds.

The idea that overpasses offer safety probably began in 1991, when a television news crew and some citizens rode out a very weak tornado under an overpass along the Kansas Turnpike. The resulting video continues to be seen by millions, and appears to have fostered the idea that overpasses are preferred sources of shelter, and should be sought out by those in the path of a tornado. In addition, news magazine photographs of people huddled under an overpass with an approaching tornado imply that this is the correct safety procedure. Nothing can be further from the truth!

In the Oklahoma City area in May, 1999, three people were killed and many had serious injuries by a violent tornado while seeking shelter under an overpass. Eyewitness accounts from others in the area indicated that roads were blocked at times as people stopped cars to run up into small crevices under an overpass. Not only is the overpass unsafe as a shelter, blocking roads denies others the chance to get out of the storm's path, and impedes emergency vehicles from their critical duties!

Wind speeds in tornados can be over 200 mph. These destructive winds produce airborne debris that are blown into and channeled under the overpass where people might try to seek shelter. Debris of varying size and types, including dirt, sand and rocks, moving at incredible speeds can easily penetrate clothing and skin causing serious injuries and possibly death. Very fine debris can also be forced into eyes causing injury or loss of sight. A person could even be blown out or carried away from the overpass by the fierce tornado winds. People positioned at the top of the overpass encounter even high wind speeds and more missile-like debris. Wind direction will also shift abruptly as the tornado passes tossing debris from all sides.

In the 1991 Kansas Turnpike video, the tornado was relatively weak when it passed near the overpass. A stronger tornado striking the overpass directly would likely have caused serious injury to those attempting to find shelter there.

The safest course of action when a tornado approaches is to get out of the tornado’s path, or to seek shelter in a sturdy, well-constructed building. Lying flat in a ditch, ravine, or below grade culvert also offers protection from flying tornadic debris. Do ot try to outrun a tornado in a car. Be aware of your surroundings, check weather forecasts often in changing conditions and take personal responsibility for your own safety. Remember: Overpasses offer no protection from a direct hit from a tornado, and should not be used as shelter.

Tornado Safety-Related Internet Links:

National Weather Service Tornado Safety Brochure:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/tornado.shtml




More myths about tornadoes.

Great info, jimnms!

The majority of the space under an overpass becomes a horrible wind tunnel of deadly debris in a tornado but, depending on the construction, there are usually areas at each end that create "pockets" with the road above, the embankment below and behind, and support girders on each side which would be relatively safe. (I believe this is illustrated in the video.)

I'm not sure you're right about that ReverendTed.

I believe it's not just a wind tunnel, but when the tornado winds are strong enough, the entire underside of the overpass becomes a giant vacuum.

If you listen really closely, when the tornado passes overhead you can hear it speak. It says "Death to humans!!" furthering the stereotype that all tornados hate people.

I wouldn't be surprised if this were yet another example of public safety officials feeding the public misinformation because they feel that accurate advice would be too complicated to follow.
of course, the majority of space under many overpasses would be dangerous... but some overpasses will have great little nooks to hide in.
..and even a giant vacuum won't suck someone out unless there is a lot of airflow over them.
There is a Great slide show about this issue here:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/papers/overpass.html
obviously, the message behind the slide show is that overpasses are a bad place to be in a tornado.. Still, the point is made that construction of the overpass needs to be taken into account:
"Of particular note, the reader's attention should go to the construction of this particular overpass. Note the small crawl space where the underside of the bridge meets the embankment, and the presence of the large girder beam that might provide at least a handhold. The unique construction of this bridge is in stark contrast to the construction of most overpass bridges."
_If I've got a choice between a comfy overpass nook, and a ditch... I'm choosing the nook.
..now, I don't know what I'm going to do when the killer bees come.

If you listen really closely, when the tornado passes overhead you can hear it speak. It says "Death to humans!!" furthering the stereotype that all tornados hate people.

I think it really said "Death to trailer parks!!"

>> ^grinter:
...now, I don't know what I'm going to do when the killer bees come.
Pray for a convenient tornado?

'Tornado vs. Overpass - the Battle Rages On!'


I'm writing the screenplay. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, and Mel Gibson.