When a tornado lifts a person, it transforms a common weather phenomenon into a terrifying, life-altering event. Tornadoes are atmospheric vortices that embody immense power, capable of devastating structures and altering landscapes. Understanding what happens when an individual is caught in these powerful forces requires examining the complex interplay of wind, pressure, and debris.
The Powerful Forces at Play
Tornadoes generate their destructive power through extreme wind speeds and significant pressure differentials. Rotational winds within a tornado can exceed 200 miles per hour (mph), with some violent tornadoes reaching 280 to 360 mph. These powerful winds are capable of lifting and propelling substantial objects.
A strong updraft within the tornado’s core also contributes to its lifting capability. Air feeds into the base and spirals upward, creating vertical speeds up to 170 mph. The pressure inside a tornado’s center is significantly lower than the surrounding atmospheric pressure, often 10-20% less. This drastic pressure drop occurs over a short distance, generating a strong pressure gradient force that can contribute to internal effects on living organisms.
The Experience of Being Airborne
Being lifted by a tornado would be an overwhelmingly chaotic and disorienting experience. Individuals caught in the vortex would likely endure rapid tumbling and a complete loss of control, subjected to forces from multiple directions. The environment inside a tornado is filled with a deafening roar, often compared to the sound of a freight train or jet engine. This overwhelming noise would make communication or coherent thought nearly impossible.
Visibility would be severely limited by dense dust, dirt, and debris swirling at high velocities. Objects from small particles to large building fragments would constantly impact the body, creating a barrage of physical assaults. Rapid changes in light and orientation would further contribute to a profound sense of disorientation.
Physical Consequences and Survival Outcomes
The physical consequences of being picked up by a tornado are severe, making survival incredibly rare. The predominant cause of injury and death is blunt force trauma from impacts with flying debris or being slammed against the ground or other objects. Debris, including wood, metal, glass, and parts of buildings, transforms into high-speed projectiles within the tornado. Common injuries include deep lacerations, punctures, abrasions, and contusions, often heavily contaminated with soil and debris, leading to a high risk of infection.
Fractures are also common, with approximately 30% of tornado-related injuries involving broken bones. Head injuries, including traumatic brain injury, account for about 7% of tornado injuries and are a leading cause of death and long-term disability. The extreme forces can also cause internal injuries, such as blunt chest and abdominal trauma. While less common, rapid pressure changes inside a tornado can potentially cause physical discomfort, such as ruptured eardrums. Being thrown a considerable distance, as documented in some rare survival cases where individuals were propelled over 1,300 feet, often results in severe, multi-system trauma upon impact.