Tornado Question

[Dan Robinson]

You'd nearly certainly be going airborne. The pressure drop in a tornado wouldn't be enough to cause any injury by itself. I wouldn't see the wind itself being much of a problem - like sticking your hand out of a moving car at 70mph with a 30mph headwind, or a skydiver at terminal velocity (125 mph). Although, any sudden, violent change in wind direction within the vortex might be able to break bones.

I would think it would be nearly impossible for a human body to experience the force of anything greater than 125mph unless it was anchored to something. Once you get to 125mph, you're going airborne and your motion-relative winds would remain at or below that level, even if you were in a 300mph wind flow.

Any dirt, sand or debris will be the real problem. Remember the accounts from the Labor Day Hurricane of the recovered bodies that had their skin sandblasted off. If the tornado was occuring over a huge concrete parking lot with no dirt or debris at all to entrain into the circulation, you may be able to 'take it for a ride' as long as you weren't quickly thrown back to the ground. Not something I would want to try on purpose either way....

 

[STurner]

There was some guy who posted a comment on you tube about the Elie, Manitoba F5 tornado. He said that that tornado looked like an F1 tornado and that he could have walked right through it and been ok. Yeah it would have not been so funny when the tornado would have picked him up and torn him to pieces by 200mph+ winds. It would be scary to find out what an F1 tornado could do to someone let alone an F5. That guy needs to educate himself by reading on the size of a tornado does not always mean its intensity.

 

[Eric Hostetter]

If you were to get lifted off the ground, I assume you'd also hear the distinct sound of a slide whistle. And also when you drop back to the ground. Just like in the cartoons.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

you might feel your ears pop, your butt poop, your neck crack and your vision go black.

All of that, yeah.
You might feel and look like a popsicle too - when a 2x4 ends up in your hindquarter. Being hit with the drebis of any size tornado is also the killer. A small rock becomes a bullet, a 3/4" water pipe becomes a javelin/spear, and a tree branch becomes a baseball bat swung more powerfully that Reggie Jackson could ever do. Who wants to experience this - by thinking or wondering what it is like to be in the wind force of these 'tarnaders'. Personally, I prefer to be on the outisde of it and take pics!

 

[Mike Krzywonski]

All of that, yeah.
You might feel and look like a popsicle too - when a 2x4 ends up in your hindquarter. Being hit with the drebis of any size tornado is also the killer. A small rock becomes a bullet, a 3/4" water pipe becomes a javelin/spear, and a tree branch becomes a baseball bat swung more powerfully that Reggie Jackson could ever do.

His initial question involved a scenario in an open field w/o debris (no 2x4's, pipes, or tree branches).

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

His initial question involved a scenario in an open field w/o debris (no 2x4's, pipes, or tree branches).

OK - my mistake.
But there always rocks and small debris present - one can never count that out. Unless it occurs over water and you're in a boat - then there are other dangers that are obvious enough.

My field in Iowa still has some decent size rocks in them (you can bet that they still do damage to finer planting/cultivation equipment), and this is considered prime growing land. Even 4-5" rocks as well. Some of the planting areas of Kansas are far more populated with odd kinds of potentially harmful debris. There is no such situation as 'an ideal tonado path', and it meant to be a hypothetical situation - I understand. A certain amount of dirt and rocks can even color and load the lower portion of a funnel, as the Red River area of TX and OK often see the 'red base' twisters that are quite photogenic.

EF 0-2 winds are dangerous and not to trifled with; I have a lot of respect for what a 'tarnader' can do. I wouldn't want to let anybody think that it can be somehow played or toyed with. Not me...

 

[joel ewing]

I believe that your head would get twisted off of your neck. Holy smokes...I guess we ARE in winter mode!
Dude, I think you'd get killed in a matter of seconds. Most likely picked up and thrown...rolled and cartwheeled repeatedly.
At the very least, you'd dirty your diapers.

 

[Dann Cianca]

Unless it occurs over water and you're in a boat - then there are other dangers that are obvious enough.

Like swordfish?


"Another Manatee"
" ... actually, I think that was the same one."

 

[Travis W Speakman]

Holy smokes...I guess we ARE in winter mode!

Okay...now I have to laugh at this one! Simon! I was trying to stand up for you in the last forum, now I agree with Joel...lol.

But, if there was no debris...would it be considered a tornado?

 

[Skip Talbot]

Yes, since a tornado is a rotating column of wind, not a rotating column of debris. Although you would not be able to visually confirm it from a distance.

 

[Travis W Speakman]

Okay...I guess better stated, if it were in the category that he said (upper EF1-EF2), would there ever even be the chance such a storm would exist and NOT kick up any discernible ground debris, even if it wasn't visible from a distance? I just feel there HAS to be debris at such wind speeds...I guess I'm not good at theorizing this. <shrugs>

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

But doesn't the defintion of 'tarnader' to include "...a rapidly rotating column of air that reaches the ground"?
Tornado on the ground!
Inflow jet - anyone?

 

[Travis W Speakman]

My thoughts exactly! There HAS to be debris if it were to be called a tornado, regardless if it's a huge amount, or a small amount. The ONLY way for it not to produce debris would be for it to.....humm.....help me out here....

But I guess the original question did say "with almost no debris," so giving the benefit of the doubt....it would be a dumb move to step into it!

 

[Laura Duchesne]

Keep in mind you'll only get a debris swirl when there is actually something to pick up... ie. a weak tornado passing over a grassy field will barely pick up debris. On May 26th on the Pratt, KS storm, we were near a weak tornado which initially had a slight debris swirl but then it disappeared once it went over the grass field. We were close enough to see the tornadic circulations and condensation. Now, I'd imagine that a much stronger tornado could probably rip some of the grass out, especially if it wasn't deep rooted or lacking top soil.

 

[Simon Timm]

Opps

It very clear that I did not really think about the question before posting the topic. All your answers have been very helpful, though I think I'll think about phrasing the topic before I post it