Tornado Safety in a Car

Vehicles are the second most dangerous place to be during a tornado, after mobile homes. Cars can be lifted and thrown by winds as low as 90 mph. Here's what to actually do if a tornado catches you driving.

Do NOT rely on the "safety" of a car during a tornado. Standard passenger vehicles offer minimal protection against EF2+ tornadoes. Roughly 15% of US tornado deaths occur in vehicles.

The Best Options If You're Driving When a Tornado Approaches

Option 1: Drive Away From the Tornado (Only if You Have Time)

If the tornado is far away (more than a mile) and you can clearly see its motion:

Drive at right angles to the tornado's path - if it's moving northeast, drive south or southeast
Never drive directly away - most tornadoes travel 25-55 mph and can catch you
Watch for other tornadoes - outbreak days often produce multiple simultaneously

This only works if you have clear visibility and safe road options. In heavy rain or urban settings, do not attempt to outrun.

Option 2: Get Inside a Permanent Building

If a safe permanent building (school, church, restaurant, gas station, big-box store) is within a minute or two - drive there and shelter inside on the lowest floor, interior room.

Option 3: Abandon the Vehicle

If you can't outrun and no building is available - get out of the car and:

Find the lowest ditch, culvert, or ravine you can quickly reach
Lie flat, face down
Cover your head with your arms
Stay as far as possible from the vehicle (it may be thrown onto you)

NEVER shelter under a highway overpass. The wind tunnel effect accelerates tornado winds - overpasses have killed multiple people. This is a common and dangerous myth.

What Not to Do

Don't shelter in place inside the car. Even with your seat belt on, EF2+ winds can flip or throw the vehicle. You are far more vulnerable in a car than lying flat in a ditch.

Don't shelter under a bridge or overpass. The 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore F5 killed multiple people under overpasses. Debris hits with amplified force in the wind tunnel between deck and ground.

Don't stop under trees. Trees fall in tornado winds. Being under one during a tornado adds to the danger.

Don't stop if you can safely keep moving. If a permanent shelter is 30 seconds away, keep driving to it rather than stopping in place.

Weather-Alert Systems in Vehicles

Modern precautions to take in your car:

Wireless Emergency Alerts - enabled on your phone. WEA alerts you if you enter a warning polygon.
Sirius XM Weather - some vehicles have real-time weather displays
Weather apps - RadarScope, MyRadar
Portable NOAA weather radio - keep one in your glove compartment

What About Trucks and Big Vehicles?

Larger vehicles (semi-trucks, RVs, delivery vans) are actually MORE vulnerable, not less. Their large surface area catches more wind. Truck drivers are strongly advised to pull over and seek permanent shelter during tornado warnings.

If You're a Passenger

Insist the driver take shelter. If you're not driving, you can help by:

Monitoring weather radio or apps
Reading map for shelter options
Communicating spotter reports back to family

Chase Statistics

Amateur storm chasers - people driving toward tornadoes to observe them - are at heightened risk. In-car storm chaser fatalities have occurred (El Reno 2013 killed 3 professional chasers). If you're not trained, don't attempt to observe tornadoes from a vehicle.

Bottom Line

Best: get to a permanent building
Next best: drive at right angles to the tornado's path
Last resort: abandon the vehicle for a ditch
Never: shelter in a car or under an overpass

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