The question of whether a tornado can lift a tank requires examining the intersection of extreme meteorology and physical engineering. It is a contest between the immense force of an atmospheric vortex and the fundamental physics of gravity, weight, and aerodynamics. Determining if a main battle tank is truly immovable requires a detailed look at how tornado power is measured and the specific properties of the armored vehicle itself.
Categorizing Tornado Power
Tornado strength is classified using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, which ranges from EF0 to EF5. This scale does not measure wind speed directly. Instead, it correlates the degree of observed damage to an estimated range of wind speeds, quantifying the storm’s intensity based on its destructive effects.
The most violent storms, classified as EF4 and EF5, have the theoretical capacity to move objects of extreme weight. An EF4 tornado features three-second gust wind speeds estimated between 166 and 200 miles per hour. The rare EF5 designation is reserved for storms exceeding 200 miles per hour, capable of sweeping foundations clean of frame houses. Even in these powerful storms, the wind force is distributed across a large area, making the sustained, localized force required to lift a tank highly improbable.
Mass and Aerodynamics of a Main Battle Tank
To understand the challenge a tornado faces, consider the physical properties of a modern main battle tank (MBT). Vehicles like the M1 Abrams are engineered to be extremely heavy, typically weighing between 60 and 70 metric tons (120,000 to 140,000 pounds).
This tremendous mass is coupled with a low center of gravity, acting as a powerful anchor against lateral and vertical forces. The tank’s profile is also poorly aerodynamic, as its shape is not designed to create lift. The dense, squat design and heavy tracks create immense friction with the ground, actively resisting the initial push required for movement. This combination of extraordinary weight and a ground-hugging stance makes the tank exceptionally stable.
Calculating the Forces Required for Lift
Moving a tank requires overcoming two primary physical forces: static friction and the gravitational force of its own weight. To simply slide a 70-ton tank, a tornado must generate a horizontal drag force equivalent to the product of the tank’s weight and the coefficient of friction with the ground. Lifting the tank is a much more demanding proposition, requiring a net upward force greater than its entire weight.
Wind generates lift and drag based on the square of its velocity; thus, a small increase in speed results in a dramatic increase in force. The wind speed necessary to create enough lift to overcome 140,000 pounds of mass is theoretically possible but far exceeds any speed reliably measured on Earth. While the localized pressure drop near the center of a strong vortex could contribute to lift, the tank’s sheer density prevents it from behaving like a lightweight, high-surface-area object. The required wind forces to achieve lift would likely need to be in the range of 500 to 600 miles per hour, pushing beyond the upper limits of an EF5 tornado.
Documented Movement of Extreme Weights
Examining the heaviest objects tornadoes have successfully moved provides a real-world benchmark. Tornadoes have documented instances of moving objects weighing tens of thousands of pounds. For example, a train car weighing 71,600 pounds was hurled over 130 yards by a storm. Industrial machinery weighing 35,000 pounds was also reportedly lifted.
The closest comparison to a tank’s mass is a fully-loaded railroad car, which can weigh up to 100 tons. Tornadoes have blown these cars off their tracks and slid them considerable distances. However, this movement is typically a lateral sliding or rolling motion caused by drag, not a clean vertical lift. Even in powerful EF5 events, objects of comparable weight are usually rolled or slid along the ground. The tank’s compacted mass and low surface area relative to its weight offer superior resistance compared to the larger, more exposed surface of a train car.