What did Twister get wrong?

Twister is a 1996 movie that follows a team of storm chasers who try to deploy a device that can measure the inside of a tornado. The movie was a box office hit and a cultural phenomenon, but it also had some scientific inaccuracies and unrealistic scenarios.

Here are some of the things that Twister got wrong about tornadoes, according to meteorologists and experts:

The Fujita scale: In the movie, the characters refer to the Fujita scale, which rates tornadoes from F0 to F5 based on the damage they cause. However, the movie is set in 1969, and the Fujita scale was not developed until 1971 by T. Theodore Fujita of the University of Chicago. Moreover, the Fujita scale can only be assigned after a tornado has hit an area, not before or during. In reality, storm chasers would not be able to predict the intensity of a tornado based on its appearance or behavior.

The green skies: In the movie, the characters see green skies as a sign of an impending tornado. While green skies can indicate that a cloud is very tall, which could suggest large hail or a tornado may come, it is not a sure sign or a direct cause of tornadoes. Researchers are not sure why skies can look green, but according to the Weather Channel, any correlation between green skies and tornadoes is a myth.

The risks: In the movie, the characters take many risks that real-life storm chasers would avoid, such as driving into the path of a tornado, getting close to flying debris, or taking shelter under a bridge . These actions are very dangerous and could result in injury or death. For example, taking shelter under a bridge when a tornado approaches is a terrible idea, because it can create a wind tunnel effect that can increase the speed and force of the wind and debris. NOAA advises people to seek shelter in a sturdy building or a low-lying area away from trees and cars if a tornado is coming.

The Dorothy device: In the movie, the characters use a device called Dorothy, which is supposed to release hundreds of sensors into a tornado to measure its internal structure. The device is based on NOAA’s real TOTO unit (Totable Tornado Observatory), which was designed in 1979 by Al Bedard and Carl Ramzy of NOAA’s Environmental Technology Laboratory. However, unlike Dorothy, TOTO was never successfully deployed into a tornado, because it was too heavy and bulky to be moved quickly and safely. TOTO was retired in 1987 and replaced by more advanced technologies such as Doppler radar and mobile mesonets.

These are some of the things that Twister got wrong about tornadoes. However, the movie also got some things right or mostly right, such as:

The sound: In the movie, the characters describe the sound of a tornado as a freight train or a jet engine. This is accurate for some tornadoes, especially large ones that produce strong winds and interact with buildings and trees. However, not all tornadoes sound the same, and some may be silent or produce different noises depending on their size, speed, and environment.

The debris: In the movie, the characters see various objects flying in the air due to the tornado’s suction, such as cows, cars, signs, and houses. This is possible for some tornadoes that have enough strength and lift to pick up heavy items and carry them for some distance. However, not all tornadoes can do this, and some may only cause minor damage or scatter small debris.

The research: In the movie, the characters are motivated by scientific curiosity and personal passion to study tornadoes and improve warning systems. This is true for many real-life storm chasers who risk their lives to collect data and images of tornadoes that can help meteorologists understand their formation and behavior better . However, storm chasers also face many challenges and ethical dilemmas, such as traffic congestion, public safety, media sensationalism, and competition.

Twister is an entertaining movie that showcases the thrill and danger of storm chasing. However, it is not a reliable source of information about tornadoes and their science.