Tuesday October 7th, 2014 was an unusual day for weather in southern West Virginia. Late that evening, Mercer County saw it’s first tornado in almost 50 years touch down near Spanishburg, WV. Likewise, Raleigh County had it first tornado touchdown in nearly 35 years touch down near the Ghent/Odd area. Both tornadoes, an EF-1 and and EF-2 respectively, caused some serious damage, knocked out power, and even injured two people in Mercer County. The following day, I ventured out to the Spanishburg area where the worst damage in Mercer County was. I’ve been forecasting for several years now, but this was the first time I’ve come across tornado damage. It was quite a site, and I remember thinking what a miracle it was that the people who were injured made a speedy recovery. Tornadoes are rare in the Two Virginias, but not unprecedented. In April of 2011, two tornadoes touched down near Pulaski, VA, cut a path to the northwest and roped out just before crossing into Giles County. Tornadoes and the damage they cause leave many in awe of the power of nature. They have also inspired many myths that are quite far from the facts.
1. Tornadoes do not occur in the mountains
Tornadoes do occur in the mountains. The Spanishburg and Ghent/Odd areas are both quite mountainous. Also, damage from an F3 tornado has been documented above 10,ooo feet.
2. Hiding under a freeway overpass will protect you from a tornado
While the underside of a freeway overpass may provide some protection from flying debris, it is actually a very dangerous place to be in a tornado. For one thing, you would have to abandon your vehicle on the road to get to the overpass. The mangled debris could then either get caught where you are in the overpass, or block the road for emergency crews. Secondly, the underside of an overpass acts like a wind tunnel when a tornado strikes. Winds that funnel through can accelerate up to 300 mph, and fatalities are not unprecedented. You are better off taking shelter in a roadside ditch or a flat, open field than in a highway overpass.
3. Tornadoes do not strike large cities
Tornadoes can and strike large cities. On April 2, 1957, a tornado struck near downtown Dallas, TX. Tornadoes have also struck Oklahoma City, Wichita Falls, St. Louis, Miami, and Salt Lake City.
4. You can outrun a tornado in your car
Tornadoes can travel up to highway speeds and often move erratically. If a tornado approaches your area, the last thing you want to do is to get in your car and attempt to outrun it. You are safest in an underground shelter. The next safest location is the innermost room of the lowest floor of your home. This room, ideally, has no windows or is large enough so that you are not close to any windows.
5. “My city doesn’t get any tornadoes because it is protected by a river.”
Tornadoes can occur anywhere when the conditions for producing tornadoes are right. They can cross mountains, and bodies of water… including rivers. A tornado over water is known as a waterspout.
