Severe weather preparedness: Tornado myths

With tornadoes comes a lot of believable myths such as they stay away from highly populated areas or mobile homes attract them. All are false by the way. 

The biggest of these myths is the one about tornadoes avoiding big cities. Tornadoes can hit anywhere at any time. Several large cities have been hit by tornadoes in recent years including New Orleans, Nashville, and Dallas. In fact, the very city we call home debunked this myth during the March 31st, 2023 tornado outbreak when an EF-1 tornado caused widespread damage to trees and roofs in Rockford. So yes, tornadoes can hit big cities. It just doesn't happen as much as for those who live in rural areas.

Tornado Myth #2 - Large bodies of water:

Another myth we hear often is that living near a body of water or a mountainous area spares you from being impacted by a tornado. FALSE! 

Tornadoes that form on land can cross bodies of water, including rivers and lakes. A great example of this would be the tornado that crossed the Ohio River not once, not twice, but three times back on March 14th, 2024. This tornado would be given an EF-2 rating by the National Weather Service in Louisville, KY. It's also important to remember that tornadoes can form on a body of water. These are called “waterspouts.” Never think that a body of water will protect you from a tornado.

Tornado Myth #3: Mobile homes attract tornadoes:

Myth #3 involves in the sense that they attract tornadoes. FALSE! Tornadoes are not more likely to hit a mobile home park, but the chances of them doing more damage and destruction to mobile homes are greater than say to a well-built home. Even the weakest of tornadoes can flip and cause significant damage to a mobile home.

Tornado Myth #4: Open Windows

There are many more out there. But the last one we'll discuss is the one about having your windows open during a tornado. The belief is this can help equalize the pressure inside your home, thus giving your home less of a chance to explode. 

Not only is this FALSE, but this is extremely dangerous. This gives you a higher chance of bodily harm from flying debris.