Signs of a tornado being "violent"?

[Wes Carter]

That it was in a parking lot does not mean it was parked.

Multiple sources say the cars were parked. They also mention a Jeep that was occupied but not flipped.

http://m.ktvz.com/news/rare-tornado-flips-lifts-4-cars-in-eugene-parking-lot/32370656


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[chad albee]

If it's a tornado, it's already violent. It's defined as a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground. An ef-0 can roll a semi truck. 20mph of wind can flip them.

 

[rdale]

If it's a tornado, it's already violent.

That's not what is being referred to here.

20mph of wind can flip them.

We had frequent gusts > 30mph after morning storms today - I find it hard to believe because we had 0 reports of overturned semis...

 

[chad albee]

We had frequent gusts > 30mph after morning storms today - I find it hard to believe because we had 0 reports of overturned semis...

20mph CAN blow over a semi. That is one of the first things they teach you when learning to drive tractor trailers. It's not going to happen every single time.

 

[Hannah.Taylor]

20mph CAN blow over a semi. That is one of the first things they teach you when learning to drive tractor trailers. It's not going to happen every single time.

no, 20 mph winds can not blow over a tractor. [emoji19]

I've been driving Class A (80,000 lb GVWR) for 2 1/2 years now and that was NEVER taught in CDL School and has never been taught at any if the companies I have worked for.

I currently haul doubles trailers (2 27' pup trailers and a converter dolly) from Denver to Wamsutter, WY on a daily basis 5 days a week. I go through high wind zones constantly above 35 mph.

Empty trailers wont blow over until about 40 mph or greater wind speed. It will take A HIGH amount of wind speed to blow over a tractor by itself. If a tractor is hauling empty trailers it is much easier to blow over at 40+ mph winds (which is never advised), but you can reduce speed to counter act strong winds.

We run if loaded up to 60 mph winds, any stronger and we shut it down and park it or we dont run at all.