Can We Create Real Life Twisters?

The (air) pressure is on as we dive into some on-set stories, Wizard of Oz references, and barometric gossip as we break down the science and story logic behind a beloved 90s movie: 1996’s Twister.

Alright, buckle up, because we’re diving into the whirlwind world of Twister! Picture this: back in ’96, director Jan de Bont dropped a disaster thrill ride that had us all glued to the screen, courtesy of writers Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin. It’s about a bunch of gutsy storm chasers in Oklahoma, led by the tornado-whisperer Jo (Helen Hunt). Meanwhile, her ex, Bill (Bill Paxton), shows up with divorce papers just in time for a tornado party. But hold onto your weather-predicting prototypes – Jo unveils her brainchild, Dorothy, a cutting-edge weather gadget packed with sensors that could rewrite tornado research, which promises to beef up our tornado warning systems from a measly three minutes to a solid 15. Of course, no good blockbuster is complete without a villain. Enter Jonas Miller (Cary Elwes), a rival chaser with a snazzy device of his own, the DOT 3, which is basically a knockoff Dorothy. Talk about stormy competition! Cue a wild chase through tornado alley, with trucks in ditches, Dorothy prototypes flying, and power lines crashing down faster than you can say “F5!”

And here’s the kicker: amidst all the chaos, Twister isn’t just Hollywood blowing hot air. It’s inspired by real-life storm science, like the TOtable Tornado Observatory (TOTO), which paved the way for Dorothy. Sure, TOTO had its quirks (ever heard about its tango with an Oklahoma storm?), but it laid the groundwork for sticking sensors in tornadoes like nobody’s business.

So, while Twister cranks up the drama to eleven (seriously, who drives into an F5 tornado?) it sparked serious conversations about the future of tornado research. Could Dorothy’s sensor-packed canisters really hold up in the eye of a twister? The jury’s out, but in this episode, one thing’s for sure: whether you’re a weather buff or just in it for the flying cows, Twister makes you believe in the power of science, storms, and a good ol’ fashioned summer blockbuster. 

SUGGESTED VIEWING 

Unfortunately, the only recommendation you’re going to get here is the film itself! Don’t worry, it’s not a slog – Cary Elwes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and a young Alan Ruck are a lot of fun. Buckle up for two hours and come back to us when you’re ready to challenge colleagues to get scientific measurements as fast as you can. You know, the crazy stuff. 

And there’s even a sequel, Twisters, in theaters now! Just note that we hadn’t seen Twisters when we were researching this episode, so we’re only discussing the original movie here, spoilers and all. 

FURTHER READING 

Want to get a little deeper into the science – on set, within the film, and in real life? We got you. Here are some references for all of those hoping to start jumping into tornadoes! 

Tornado Measuring 

“What you’re talking about, about gathering data, can really be looked at like a scientific principle. All the data that is possible to get, that’s what you want to get. Ideally, you’d have satellites. You’d have ground base sensors.” 

See also: Response Times and Intensity   

TOTO 

“Balls in a barrel in windy conditions wouldn’t stay in a barrel. Most would probably stay in as it spinned around!” 

Barometric Pressure 

“They have such low pressure… that homes basically explode. High pressure on the outside, low pressure on the inside, that makes an explosion occur.” 

See also: Pressure Measurements and Intensity Distribution 

The VFX Challenge 

“Visual effects are the effects that are done after you’re done shooting. Special effects, or sometimes referred to as practical effects, are done on set. The origin of this film starts with visual effects.”  

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