The instinct to use a vehicle to flee when a tornado warning is issued is a common reaction to a severe weather threat. People often assume that the speed and mobility of a car offer the best chance to escape the path of a storm. This assumption raises a high-stakes safety question: whether a car provides a viable means of survival during a tornado event. The decision to drive or seek alternative shelter must be based on reliable meteorological information.
The Reality of Tornado Speed and Direction
A vehicle’s top speed is an unreliable factor when facing a tornado. While the average tornado travels across the ground at 10 to 20 miles per hour, some can move much faster, exceeding 60 miles per hour—a pace comparable to highway traffic. For instance, the 1974 Guin tornado had a forward speed of 75 miles per hour, making it impossible to outrun safely. The storm’s destructive power comes not from its forward movement, but from the rotational wind speeds, which can surpass 300 miles per hour in the most intense cases.
The tornado’s path is highly erratic and unpredictable, complicating any attempt to drive away from it. Unlike hurricanes, a tornado can change direction and speed abruptly due to localized atmospheric changes. Attempting to gauge the path from the road is nearly impossible, as the storm can suddenly wobble or turn toward a driver who believes they are moving perpendicular to its track. This unpredictability makes relying on a car’s speed a dangerous gamble.
Immediate Hazards of Seeking Refuge in a Vehicle
Even if a driver could match the tornado’s forward speed, a car offers almost no structural protection against the storm’s forces. Cars, buses, and trucks are easily tossed and lifted by the powerful winds, turning the vehicle into a tumbling object. An EF-4 tornado (166 to 200 miles per hour winds) can throw cars and large objects long distances.
The environment surrounding a vehicle during a severe storm also presents numerous hazards. Heavy rain and hail significantly reduce visibility, making it difficult to see the tornado or the road ahead. The risk of traffic congestion is a major concern, particularly in urban areas, as many people may try to flee simultaneously, blocking escape routes and trapping vehicles. A stationary car is a highly vulnerable target for the storm’s winds and flying debris, which cause over 70% of tornado-related deaths and injuries.
Essential Safety Protocol When Caught on the Road
The National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) strongly advise against remaining in a vehicle during a tornado. The best course of action is to drive to the closest sturdy building with a basement or an interior, windowless room if time permits. If a tornado is visible and a driver cannot reach a solid structure, two immediate options exist.
If there is enough time to safely exit the car and get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, the driver should abandon the vehicle and seek a low-lying area. This includes lying flat in a ditch, culvert, or ravine, covering the head with hands or a coat. Winds are generally weakest close to the ground, offering a better chance of avoiding flying debris.
A last resort, if the tornado is moments away and no ditch or sturdy shelter is available, is to remain in the vehicle with the seatbelt fastened. The driver should duck down below the windows and cover their head with their hands or a blanket. Seeking shelter under an overpass is extremely dangerous because the structure funnels wind and debris, intensifying the hazard. The wind tunnel effect created by the overpass can increase wind speed, putting people at greater risk than remaining in a low-lying ditch.