Seems like it would still suck you up if it passed over.
2006-09-27 16:50:09 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Tornados don't suck. They're just violent vortexes. Imagine high-speed wind blowing in a circle...Lying in a ditch protects you from the parallel-to-ground-wind. If you're lower than the ground level, the wind is travelling so fast, it will just blow right over you.
True, while some vacuum will be produced due to the air velocity, even if the tornado passes directly over you, it won't be enough to "suck" you up into the vortex.
Watch out for flying nails, rocks & other high-speed projectiles, though...those are the killers.
2006-09-27 17:02:30 · answer #1 · answered by Professor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are lying flat on the ground, there is no air under you so no matter how much the pressure drops above you, you will not be sucked up.
The idea of lying in a ditch is to protect you from fly debris. A 200mph tree can do a lot of damage!
2006-09-27 17:11:40 · answer #2 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually tornadoes do not enter small ditches because they are too wide. It's safer because you're down low and everything fatal is above you flying around. Usually it's the tractor or cow that knocks you into the winds and makes you go flying. hehe. Lay in a ditch and you won't become the tornadoes latest victim.
2006-09-27 18:13:11 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It protects you from any flying debris and the ditch is also the lowest point on the ground offering the most protection from the wind. Unless the ditch has lots of water in it and then you would be at risk for drowning.
2006-09-27 16:54:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it passed directly over you, you might be sucked up either way. But the main reason to do it is that you are far more likely to be killed by flying debris like 2x4's and nails and sheet metal.
2006-09-27 17:01:05 · answer #5 · answered by Danger, Will Robinson! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its the debris thrown about by such a storm that kill or injure people, Im not sure about being sucked up, I know the NOAA recomend a ditch if you cant get anywhere else thats safe ( eg basement or other strong building).
2006-09-28 05:41:27 · answer #6 · answered by mrpiggy001 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the sideways motion of the wind that it protects you from. That and the debris. I've never had to test the theory though.
I would speed up and try to find an overpass.
2006-09-27 16:58:38 · answer #7 · answered by shogun_316 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I guess more importantly it will protect you from fly debris.
2006-09-27 16:52:00 · answer #8 · answered by firat c 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At least you'd have lots of company.
2006-09-27 16:58:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋