In the movie Twister, they showed them in the car with 3 twisters circling them. Is it possible to have more than one twisters at the same time and area?
2007-05-31 05:12:49 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Absolutely. In my experience it's wierd to have only one. Twisters spawn other twisters by their very nature.
2007-05-31 05:20:46 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they can. Tornadoes can occur in clusters. Sometimes a large tornados will form smaller funnels in its periphery.
BTW, "Twister" was fun and had great special effects, but don't look to it for any correct information - it was so full of BS that it should have a disclaimer at the beginning. (Not that I have a problem with Bill Paxton in tight jeans. ;-) )
2007-05-31 06:22:05 · answer #2 · answered by Nightlight 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know a tornado chaser who says it is quite common to have multiple vortex tornadoes.
A multiple vortex tornado is one that has mini vortices inside the bigger main vortex. In a way, it is a tornado inside tornado, and can be very intense, with both big and small vortices to create small areas of incredible damage. A photograph of a multiple vortex tornado was taken in Peotone, Illinois in 1948, but it was not recognized for what it was back then. Dr. Fujita proposed this theory in his research, but it was not accepted as fact for many years. Interestingly enough, there are illustrations from the 19th century that show the same multiple vortex structure. It should be pointed out, however, that single vortex tornadoes can be just as intense as multiple vortex tornadoes. (see last photo below)
2007-05-31 05:43:22 · answer #3 · answered by Someone who cares 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Most of the time, it is a single tornado with multiple suction vorticies (aka, multiple vortex tornado). Then you have satellite tornadoes, which are a separate tornado forming and rotating around the primary tornado (both in the same storm), whereas with multiple vortex tornadoes, the vorticies rotate around each other. Satellite tornadoes are smaller than the primary tornado, so that helps distinguish the difference between that and a multiple vortex tornado.
2007-05-31 08:01:54 · answer #4 · answered by Bean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh sure! In Yankton, South Dakota a few days ago. We had a storm and it was two tornadoes that formed into one and the split into four before it was up.
2007-05-31 05:20:59 · answer #5 · answered by Lily E. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They certainly can. On April 3 1974, 148 tornadoes occurred reaching from Alabama to Michigan, many of which were very close to one another.
http://www.april31974.com/
2007-05-31 05:18:56 · answer #6 · answered by JLynes 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
our town got hit by two tornados at the same time but about three miles apart.
2007-06-02 09:43:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely, many tornados spawn secondary tornados, sometimes smaller, but not always.
2007-05-31 05:20:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely yes! I used to live in Tulsa, OK.
2007-05-31 05:27:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah without a problem
2007-05-31 08:46:45 · answer #10 · answered by Justin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋