What to do if a tornado catches you in your car or outdoors
A car is one of the worst places to be and an overpass is worse still. What to do when there is no sturdy building anywhere nearby.
Inside a house there are bad and good options. Outside there are only less bad ones, and choosing well among them depends on knowing them beforehand, because there is essentially no time to think.
The order of preference
- A sturdy building within reach. If you can get there quickly, go. Any structure on a foundation beats staying out.
- Driving at right angles, only if the tornado is clearly distant, you can see its direction and the road is clear.
- A ditch or low ground, lying face down, covering your head and neck with your arms.
- Inside the car with the belt on, crouched below the window line and covering your head, if there is nothing else.
Why a car is such a bad place
A vehicle weighs little relative to its surface area, so wind lifts and rolls it easily. It is also largely made of glass and offers no protection from debris at high speed.
Trying to outrun a tornado usually fails for the same reasons: heavy rain cuts visibility, traffic stops, and tornadoes do not follow a predictable straight line.
If you are outdoors
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Open country | Lie in the lowest ground, covering head and neck |
| Near woods | Move away: trees fall and shatter |
| Beside vehicles | Move away: they lift and roll |
| At an outdoor event | Head for the nearest sturdy structure |
Lying in a ditch is not intuitive, but it works for two reasons: the strongest wind passes over you and debris flies at height.
- The safest place in your house during a tornado As low, as interior and with as few exterior walls as possible. How to pick your shelter depending on the kind of home you live in.
- Tornado watch vs warning: the difference that counts A watch says conditions are favourable; a warning says one has been detected. The gap between them can be a matter of minutes.
Gear that covers this
Products that match what the guide above recommends.
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- View on Amazon
Helmet in the car
Same argument as at home: the injury that kills most is to the head. A helmet under the seat takes no space.
- View on Amazon
Thick blanket in the trunk
Useful to cover yourself from debris and hail if you have to leave the vehicle or wait in the open.
Frequently asked questions
Can you outrun a tornado in a car?
Only if it is clearly far away, you can see its direction and you have a clear road at right angles. Tornadoes change course and move fast, and traffic and heavy rain complicate everything.
Is it safe to shelter under an overpass?
No, it is one of the worst options. The gap narrows the airflow and increases wind speed, exposes you to debris, and blocks the road for everyone trying to leave.
What if there is no building anywhere near?
Lie down in the lowest spot you can find, such as a ditch, face down, covering your head and neck with your arms. Get away from vehicles and trees.
Does a seat belt help if I stay in the car?
If you cannot get out and cannot reach a building, staying inside belted, crouched below the window line and covering your head, is the least bad option.