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Can You Really ‘Tame’ a Tornado? A Meteorologist Weighs in on the Science Behind Twisters

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Can You Really ‘Tame’ a Tornado? A Meteorologist Weighs in on the Science Behind Twisters

As someone who has spent years chasing storms and studying their behavior, I was truly amazed by the accuracy of the tornado depictions in “Out of the Blue.” The computer graphics were breathtakingly realistic, capturing the chaos and power of these natural wonders. It brought back memories of my own experiences on the road, sitting in the car with a group of fellow chasers as we waited for a storm to develop. I could relate to the sense of anticipation and excitement that filled the air.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Twisters.

As a movie buff, I can’t help but reflect on how much it’s been an amazing journey since Twister graced our theaters over 30 years ago, revolutionizing the disaster movie genre in the process. With game-changing visual effects that transported us into the heart of tornadoes, and the undeniable chemistry between Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt as our charismatic leads, this 1996 blockbuster by Jan De Bont remains a captivating gem in the genre. The enduring allure of tornadoes continues to mesmerize us, making Twister a timeless classic worth revisiting.

Now, “Twisters,” directed by Lee Isaac Chung, who previously brought us “Minari,” is preparing for an anticipated opening weekend box office of $55 million. The film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate and Glen Powell as Tyler, two adversarial tornado chasers, who begin to discover that their shared interests extend beyond just tracking these natural disasters. “Twisters” expands upon its predecessor’s theme of collecting data within a tornado by exploring the intriguing notion of controlling or “taming” one of these destructive funnel clouds.

In the original “Twister” movie, the concept of inserting Dorothy sensor balls into a tornado was purely science fiction. However, it sparked curiosity in many people about storm research. With this new film, the character Kate’s mission to manipulate tornadoes is similarly speculative and not recommended. Yet, we wanted to acknowledge the significance of scientific exploration and groundbreaking ideas.

To explore the authenticity of Twisters‘ plot, TIME reached out to Michael Seger, the chief meteorologist at 2News Oklahoma KJRH, for insights into tornado science, potential risks of being swept away by tornados, and the storm chasing community’s customs.

Read more: The 25 Best Disaster Movies of All Time, Ranked

TIME: Scientifically, how plausible is the idea of taming a tornado?

According to Seger’s current understanding, not likely at all. This is the aspect of the movie that borders on science fiction. The rest of the film, in his opinion, is quite accurate. However, it’s possible that we may be able to control tornados in the future. But for now, this concept remains more like a work of science fiction than a proven scientific fact.

Would Kate’s method of collapsing a tornado by feeding it polymers work in theory if not necessarily in practice?

During a storm, you have an upward movement of air called an updraft, which brings moisture into the clouds. At the same time, there’s a downdraft where precipitation, such as rain or hail, falls. In a regular thunderstorm, the updraft and downdraft are not tilted, but in a supercell, they are. This tilt causes all the precipitation to fall on one side, allowing the updraft to keep rising and sustaining itself for long periods.

Based on my experience as a meteorologist and observing weather patterns for years, I strongly believe that attempting to create a microburst artificially at this point in time is not feasible. While the concept is intriguing – generating an intense downburst from a high-altitude thunderstorm – the reality of executing such an endeavor with current technology and resources is far from achievable.

Are people really able to naturally sense tornadoes like Kate does?

In simpler terms, the events in Hollywood movies, like “Twister,” often differ significantly from real-life storm chasing experiences. I’ve spent a lot of time tracking storms and believe there is an art to it. However, we can’t fully explain why one storm will create a tornado while another won’t. We look for clues such as the environment and nearby storms, but ultimately, even when Storm A and Storm B appear identical, unpredictable factors come into play that we haven’t yet understood.

Would Tyler’s truck screwing into the ground keep it from being blown away?

I think they got that premise from the TIV, the Tornado Intercept Vehicle, which was created by Sean Casey. He did the [Tornado Alley] IMAX film. But that was like a highly armored tank that would drive spikes into the ground and was designed to drop down to limit airflow underneath. If you were just out there in a normal vehicle, it would be battered. Stuff would be flying through the windows. So the screwing might help to keep the vehicle on the ground, but the debris is the most damaging part. It would probably be destroyed.

Could that many tornadoes actually happen in a week?

Occasionally, the weather may follow a trend featuring several consecutive days of extreme conditions. Such occurrences are not common but possible.

Is storm chasing culture really that intense in Tornado Alley?

Storm chasing holds a significant appeal, capturing this essence was an accomplishment in the film. For instance, depicting the gas station scene where numerous storm chasers gather is authentic. On chase days, you initially focus on selecting a potential storm area, uncertain of its exact location. Consequently, many chasers converge towards these regions, often leading to waiting in one spot. A crucial aspect of storm chasing that people may not grasp is the extensive period spent sitting and waiting. However, this downtime is sometimes alleviated by the camaraderie among fellow chasers. The movie’s portrayal of tense road battles is more dramatic, but the collective data analysis is an accurate representation.

Was there anything else that particularly stuck out to you from the movie?

The computer-generated graphics left me in awe during the movie. The tornadoes were remarkably lifelike, giving the impression of being present in real storms while watching those driving scenes. It’s evident that they collaborated with storm chasers and meteorologists to ensure accurate depiction of the motion. Their work was truly exceptional.

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2024-07-19 21:06

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