Tornadoes cause greater damage when they travel uphill and less damage as they move downhill. Whenever possible, tornadoes tend to climb toward higher elevations rather than going downhill. When a region is surrounded by hills, tornadoes skip or hop over valleys beneath and between these hills, and damage is noticed only on the top of the hills.
Researchers also found that when a region is surrounded by hills, tornadoes skip or hop over the valleys below. Damage is noticed only on the top of the hills.
While this article acknowledges that tornadoes are less common at higher elevations and mountainous terrain, it also debunks the myth that “tornadoes don’t happen in mountains.” References… Scott, Doug (Ed).
MYTH: Tornadoes do occur in mountains. Tornadoes have been recorded in the high elevations of the Appalachians, Rockies and Sierra Nevada. Damage from an F3 tornado has been documented above 10,000 feet, and in the mountains of Utah, a hiker photographed a weak tornado.
Tornadoes can travel up and down hillsides, and are just as violent and dangerous. Living on a hill will not protect you from a tornado. “A tornado always forms and appears as a funnel cloud.”.
Do tornadoes go up or down?
Whenever possible, tornadoes tend to climb toward higher elevations rather than going downhill. When a region is surrounded by hills, tornadoes skip or hop over valleys beneath and between these hills, and damage is noticed only on the top of the hills.
The most usefull answer is; Tornadoes do not follow a specific path or route, and can change directions at any time. The only safe place to be during a tornado is in a location that offers shelter from high winds and debris. “The damage to homes during a tornado is caused by an explosion from changes in air pressure.”.
Is it possible to survive a tornado?
Even the possibility of a tornado must be taken seriously. Although the most violent tornadoes can level and blow away almost any house and those within it, extremely violent EF5 tornadoes (those with wind speeds of 200MPH or more) are rare. Most tornadoes are much weaker. You can survive a tornado if you follow safety precautions.