It is possible for a person to be lifted by a tornado, though such occurrences are rare and depend on specific conditions. The immense forces within a tornado, combined with a person’s lightness, can lead to uplift.
The Science of Tornado Uplift
Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, formed when warm, unstable air begins to rotate as it rises. Wind shear, a change in wind speed and direction with height, influences this rotation. As warm, moist air rapidly ascends within the storm’s updraft, it spins, creating a vortex.
The primary forces for tornado uplift are extreme wind speeds and pressure differentials. Winds can exceed 200 miles per hour, with some violent tornadoes reaching over 300 miles per hour. These intense winds exert significant force, pushing and throwing objects. The low pressure within the tornado’s core, often described as a “suction effect,” contributes to uplift. This pressure difference, combined with strong updrafts, can lift objects, including people.
Real-World Occurrences and Outcomes
While being lifted by a tornado is uncommon, documented cases exist of individuals surviving such an event. Matt Suter, for example, was carried approximately 1,307 feet (398 meters) in 2006 by an EF-2 tornado near Fordland, Missouri, and awoke with only minor injuries. Other accounts describe people being thrown shorter distances, such as an 8-year-old boy in Alabama carried almost 30 feet off the ground, sustaining only cuts and bruises.
The altitude a person might reach if lifted by a tornado is usually not high, often a few hundred feet, before being thrown or falling back to the ground. The danger is not just the fall but the chaotic, debris-filled environment within the tornado. Individuals caught in a tornado are at significant risk from flying debris, such as wood, rocks, and metal, which can cause severe or fatal injuries. The impact upon landing, even from a relatively low height, can also be devastating.
Protecting Yourself from Tornado Hazards
Due to severe tornado dangers, prioritizing safety measures is important. Understanding the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning is an important step in preparedness. A tornado watch indicates conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form in a specified area, urging vigilance. A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar, signifying imminent danger and requiring immediate action.
During a tornado warning, seeking sturdy shelter is important. The safest locations are typically underground, such as a basement or storm cellar. If an underground shelter is not available, a small, interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows, offers the next best protection. Cover your head and neck with arms, blankets, or mattresses to protect against flying debris. Mobile homes and vehicles offer minimal protection and should be evacuated for a more robust structure or a low-lying ditch if no other shelter is available.