How Tyler’s Truck Withstands Those Tornadoes, According To The Real Life Scientist Who Worked On Twisters

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As a seasoned gamer and storm chaser enthusiast with over two decades of experiencing virtual tornadoes in games like “The Sims” and “Stormworks: Build & Respond,” I must say that the portrayal of Tyler’s wind-resistance truck in Twisters has left me both awestruck and a bit skeptical.

The following article contains slight spoilers for the ending of Twisters…

In the highly anticipated sequel, Twisters, boasts an illustrious cast including Daisy Edgar-Jones from Normal People, Glen Powell of Top Gun: Maverick, and Anthony Ramos from In the Heights. However, it’s not just the human actors that shine in this disaster movie – Tyler’s wind-resistant truck also plays a crucial role. Interestingly, a scientist who collaborated on Lee Isaac Chung’s film has revealed the secrets behind how Tyler’s truck managed to withstand numerous tornadoes in real life.

In the movie “Twisters”, Glen Powell’s character Tyler is portrayed as a YouTube personality from Arkansas who initially comes across as a storm chaser seeking attention rather than professionalism. Unlike his counterparts Kate and Javi, he doesn’t own a high-tech StormPar van. Instead, he relies on a modified Dodge Ram truck equipped with robust features to endure tornadoes. His vehicle is fortified with screw-like anchors designed to prevent it from being carried away by the windstorm.

Admittedly, despite our fondness for the blockbuster film “Twister” from 1996, it’s hard to ignore the inconsistencies in the plot. The science portrayed in the movie is more akin to Hollywood magic than authentic scientific facts. However, Sean Waugh, a research scientist at the National Severe Storm Laboratory (NSSL), sheds light on the accuracy of some aspects of the film. For instance, he clarified to Variety about the realism of the main character’s truck and how storm chasers actually deploy instruments into tornadoes for research purposes.

As a gamer, I’ve dabbled in projects with a resemblance to this one. I may not have chased tornadoes head-on, but I’ve ventured close enough for a thrill. I haven’t witnessed anyone launching fireworks into a tornado, at least not from my gaming perspective. But mark my words, within a year, someone will surely give it a go… That firework stunt was all part of the movie magic, to amplify Tyler’s character and his craving for the limelight.

Observing the spectacle of fireworks shooting from a truck into a tornado was undeniably an awe-inspiring sight. But remember, it’s the magic of cinema, not a real-life scientific phenomenon.

Currently, fireworks provide excitement, but what truly safeguards a truck against tornadoes’ destructive forces is a robust welded steel exoskeleton affixed to its framework. This design ensures that the vehicle remains undamaged even as it moves, preventing it from being flattened. As depicted in the film by Tyler, there’s an additional weight added between the exoskeleton and the grille specifically for absorbing the impact of lighter debris generated during the early stages of multiple cyclones.

The biggest test of Tyler’s truck comes towards Twisters’ ending when Kate takes the well-equipped truck inside of a tornado to see if she can stop it from destroying a small town. The rods drilled into the ground to keep the truck in place until the power of the tornado ultimately flipped it. Sean Waugh weighed in on how much that truck would be able to handle in that real-life scenario, saying:

The area is filled with scattered debris, which poses a significant risk during strong, powerful winds. Even sturdy vehicles like Tyler’s truck might struggle against such debris. An exoskeleton isn’t equivalent to armor plating; it can’t prevent debris from penetrating through car doors or windows. A speed of around 120-130 MPH might be manageable, but anything faster could lift the vehicle due to wind getting under it, causing issues like tipping, rolling, or becoming airborne. No amount of armor plating can protect a car from damage if it collides with a tree.

It’s true that even a heavily equipped car drilled into the ground probably can’t withstand heavy winds that are well over 100 MPH. This must be especially true if you’re literally inside of a tornado. But at least at the end of the movie, it realistically showed that the truck wasn’t capable of staying in place for too much longer and did the best it could. The research scientist gave his take on what he would do with a Dodge Ram heading into a tornado:

If I were to bring this design to reality, I’d enhance it by incorporating extra panels, reinforced armor, and tougher or shielded glass to protect against flying debris and rocks.

Based on studies conducted by researcher Sean Waugh, who specialized in twisters, Tyler’s pickup truck showed remarkable resilience against tornadoes, thanks to its steel skeleton and additional weight attached to the frame. This design made the vehicle robust enough to withstand debris. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t have survived all the events depicted in the movie. When considering a genuine storm-chasing truck, keep in mind Sean Waugh’s recommendation: ensure it has reinforced panels, armored plating, and impact-resistant windows to handle whatever may come its way.

Tornadoes have been scheduled for release in 2024, and if you want to see Tyler’s truck in motion, be sure to watch it in cinemas immediately.

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2024-08-01 16:08