How Accurate Twisters’ New Tornado Science Is

The following contains spoilers for Twisters, now playing in theaters

Twisters features some visually exciting storm chasing and tornado sequences but may leave audiences pondering about the authenticity of the science behind their methods. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos, Twisters is the stand-alone sequel to 1996’s blockbuster smash, Twister. Focusing on a new generation of meteorologists and storm chasers, Twisters sees the Edgar-Jones’ Kate working towards a method that can disrupt twisters to save lives.

When Twister was released, some criticized the way the film portrayed the science of tornados and the technology used to track them. However, the film did work with real-life storm chasers to be reflective of true practices and genuine theories about storms. Twisters ultimately do something similar with real storm chasing, utilizing genuine technology and theories while adapting them for the blockbuster format. Here’s how well Twisters‘ science holds up against real life.

The Science Behind Kate Disrupting A Tornado Explained

How Kate Fights Back Against Tornados In Twisters

Twisters gives Kate an inventive (and largely fictional) approach to disrupting tornados that has some roots in real theories and technology. Kate Cooper is introduced in Twisters as a college student, committed to testing a theory that the right solutions mixed into a twister could disrupt the storm. In the ending of Twisters, Kate recreates the experiment with a tweaked solution, new resources, and intel she gathered alongside Tyler Owens. She uses it all to save the town of El Reno from a powerful tornado.

Driving Owens’ storm tracking truck into the center of the twister, Kate releases the solution into the middle of the massive tornado and fires rocket canisters filled with silver iodide to induce a change in the atmosphere. This allows it to blend with the compound. This time, the experiment works and the massive twister largely fades away. It’s a big visual spectacle for the film to close out on, and a triumphant moment for Kate. However, it’s also a move that relies on a lot of theories that even in the film hasn’t been fully field-tested before Kate goes through with it.

Twisters’ Storm PAR Is Loosely Based On Real Technology

Twisters Pays Homage To Real Technology & Theories About Tornados

Similar to Dorothy in Twister, the technology and methods of Twisters aren’t quite accurate to real life. However, it does take inspiration from the research and inventions of real scientists. The main plot of the film is set off when Javi recruits Kate to assist with his advanced tracking technology. This is a fictionalized advanced version of real technology used by the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Working with military branches like the Navy, the NSSL has developed Phased Array Radars (otherwise known as PAR) that can track aircraft and weather patterns alike, similar to Javi’s more mobile tech.

This reflection of true science was important to director Lee Isaac Chung, who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about balancing scientific authenticity with filmmaking. He explained, “We’re just theorizing, and it’s definitely not something we want people to be doing, but we wanted the film to pay homage to science and research… theoretically, how would we collapse a tornado? All of that is based on real science.” While the theories and technology do have a basis in reality, many of the methods used in the film are more the former than the latter in reality.

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Is It Possible To Disrupt A Tornado In Real Life?

Technically, We Can Beat Tornados, But At A Massive Cost

The climax of Twisters relies on Kate’s experiments succeeding, disrupting the twister that was otherwise threatening to overtake her friends and the rest of El Reno. However, this isn’t reflective of real life, as the methods to consistently and safely stop twisters don’t exist. Kate’s specific compound is an invention of the film. While some things like dry ice could theoretically be used to disrupt twisters (making Kate’s idea theoretically possible), it would require getting ahead of the storm and deploying it. This is a frequent challenge for Kate in the film, and in real life would be incredibly dangerous.

It’s also potentially pointless, as stopping one twister wouldn’t solve the underlying threat. This is because twisters are a result of supercell thunderstorms in the atmosphere, which are massive and largely impossible to contain. As explained by the NSSL, disrupting one twister won’t stop another forming. While weapons like nuclear bombs could theoretically break up a supercell thunderstorm, the ensuing effects aren’t worth destroying a single storm that plays a pivotal role in the atmosphere’s continued balance. Twisters takes real concepts and plays them for pure spectacle in an entertaining way.

Source:NSSL, The Hollywood Reporter

Twisters

A follow-up to the 1996 original film Twister, Twisters is a sequel set years after the original, said to be fast-tracked by Steven Spielberg and Mark L. Smith, with Frank Marshal as producer. Little details exist about the film, but Helen Hunt is expected to reprise her role as Jo, with the film likely to pay homage to the late Bill Paxton. 

Director

Lee Isaac Chung

Release Date

July 19, 2024

Writers

Mark L. Smith , Joseph Kosinski , Michael Crichton , Anne-Marie Martin

Cast

Daisy Edgar-Jones , Glen Powell , Anthony Ramos , Brandon Perea , Daryl McCormack