Driving through a tornado is not survivable. A motor vehicle is one of the most dangerous places to be during a tornado, as cars offer minimal protection against extreme winds and flying debris. When encountering a tornado while driving, the primary goal is to prioritize personal safety by seeking robust shelter immediately. The following strategies detail how to maximize survival chances when this life-threatening weather event occurs on the road.
Why Driving Through a Tornado is Catastrophic
A vehicle is inherently unstable against the forces generated by a tornado, making survival inside the car highly unlikely. The low weight and high profile of a standard car mean it can be easily lifted, rolled, or tossed by tornadic winds, which can reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour. This instability turns the vehicle itself into a dangerous projectile.
The greatest threat to life inside a vehicle comes from airborne debris, which can penetrate the car’s structure and windows. Even a weak tornado can hurl objects like lumber, metal, and glass at speeds capable of shattering windshields and causing fatal injuries. Heavy rain and hail often precede and accompany a tornado, causing near-zero visibility. This makes controlled driving and assessment of the storm’s path impossible.
Immediate Defensive Driving Strategies
When a tornado is sighted, the immediate objective is to escape the storm’s path. However, attempting to outrun a tornado is rarely viable, as they can travel up to 70 miles per hour and change direction unexpectedly. Instead of driving directly away from the funnel cloud, which risks traveling parallel to its path, the safer strategy is to drive at a right angle (90 degrees) away from the tornado’s observed line of travel.
This perpendicular maneuver attempts to quickly put distance between the vehicle and the storm’s path. If traffic is heavy or the tornado is approaching rapidly, attempting high-speed maneuvers is dangerous and should be avoided. If escape is not possible or the tornado is close, the driver must quickly pull over, park safely, and abandon the vehicle to seek secure shelter.
Last-Resort Survival Actions Outside the Vehicle
If the tornado is too close to outrun, the car must be abandoned immediately, as the vehicle can become a deadly projectile. The safest action is to get lower than the level of the roadway, seeking shelter in a ditch, culvert, or ravine. Once in this low area, the individual should lie flat, face down, and use their hands and arms to cover the back of their head and neck.
Highway overpasses do not offer protection; this is a misconception. They can actually increase wind speeds due to the venturi effect, funneling and accelerating the airflow. Seeking shelter under a bridge or overpass exposes a person to faster winds and increased flying debris. The car should be parked far enough away from the shelter location so it does not roll onto the occupants or become a missile directed toward them.
Recognizing and Responding to Tornado Warnings
Proactive awareness of weather conditions is the first line of defense when driving in tornado-prone regions. Motorists should monitor local weather alerts via radio or phone applications, especially during a Tornado Watch. A Tornado Watch indicates that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form, signaling the need for heightened awareness and readiness.
A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar, requiring immediate action to seek shelter. Visual and auditory signs of an approaching tornado include a dark, often greenish or yellowish sky, large hail, and a loud, continuous roar compared to a freight train. Upon hearing a warning or seeing these signs, the driver must immediately implement defensive driving or last-resort sheltering strategies.