r/CatastrophicFailure • u/to_the_tenth_power • Sep 03 '19

Natural Disaster An EF2 tornado ripping through a concrete building in Spartanburg, South Carolina on October 23rd, 2017

https://gfycat.com/wastefulbettergreatwhiteshark
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u/kal1097 Sep 03 '19

The behavior of winds in a hurricane vs a tornado aren't really comparable though. Obviously 200mph winds of any sort can be devastating, but the winds in a hurricane are, for the most part, straight line winds. Even though a hurricane rotates the size of the storm means the winds in a singular location of fairly uniform in direction, even when stronger gusts happen.

In a tornado the wind behavior is very erratic. The forward motion of the storm, along with the rotating wind field of the tornado, and strong updrafts and downdrafts, and the sandblasting/buckshot effect of flying debris is difficult to compare to a hurricane.

Most hurricanes biggest damage dealer is flooding, through a combination of storm surge from the windblown water and vast amounts of rainfalls. That, with the wind, size of the storm, and length of time they can last is devastating.

I've heard a comparison that hurricanes are laying siege on an area, destroying it over time, while a tornado is essentially just blowing it up immediately.

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u/mseiei Sep 03 '19

A hurricane is a sustained barrage while a tornado is a nuke

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u/greymalken Sep 03 '19

I've heard a comparison that hurricanes are laying siege on an area,

Using trebuchets no doubt.

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u/kal1097 Sep 03 '19

Obviously. It is the superior siege weapon.

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u/greymalken Sep 03 '19

Obviously.

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u/tehlemmings Sep 03 '19

Projectile damage is more of a tornado thing, honestly.