Is it true that tornadoes avoid (follow) rivers (or other topographic features)?
In many locations around the world, it’s widely believed that tornadoes are deflected by such things as rivers, hills, or other topographic features. Although there are good reasons to believe that tornadoes are indeed influenced by topographic features, it’s also true that there have been notable exceptions to the local mythology about tornadoes being deflected by such things. For example, it was accepted for a long time that Topeka, Kansas was protected by a hill called Burnett’s Mound to the southwest of town … this idea may have had its origins in Native American legends. However, on 08 June 1966, a violent tornado went directly over Burnett’s Mound on its way into Topeka! So much for that legend! During the 03-04 April 1974 tornado outbreak, a violent tornado apparently went right up the side of a 3,000 foot mountain and then right down the other side, all without any break or diminution in damage along its path. It seems that for violent tornadoes, at least, “obstacles” like hi
Related Questions
- Why don boundaries follow permanent features such as roads, rivers and why do they sometimes go through buildings?
- What is the importance and effects of surrounding features such as mountains, rivers, buildings, roadways etc?
- Is it true that tornadoes avoid (follow) rivers (or other topographic features)?
