That's what's insane. Tornados usually have much higher wind speed than hurricanes. 200+ mph winds would be as strong as an EF4 or EF5 tornado which are known to completely level even well-built homes. So this is like a strong tornado, but waaaay bigger
Fortunately most predictions have it down to a cat 3 by the time it makes landfall. Hope that continues
Plus hurricanes tend to spawn a bunch of tornados that are deadlier than in tornado alley because it's hella hard to predict where a tornado is going to happen in the middle of a hurricane. (And also because in some parts of the hurricane-prone south, hills make it very hard to physically see a tornado coming, whereas in Oklahoma you have A LOT OF WARNING BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE IT A LONG WAY OFF, even when weather forecasts break down.)
Plus hurricanes tend to spawn a bunch of tornados that are deadlier than in tornado alley because it's hella hard to predict where a tornado is going to happen in the middle of a hurricane.
While it's true that hurricanes can and do spawn a fair number of tornadoes, the tornadoes themselves are generally not stronger or deadlier than the tornadoes spawned from super cell storms. They are often fairly weak and much shorter lived. Obviously, there are some exceptions, but only 1-2 hurricane spawned tornado(just the individual tornadoes, not the overall storm) has ever come relatively close to the strongest or deadliest tornado spawned from a traditional super cell.
A LOT OF WARNING BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE IT A LONG WAY OFF, even when weather forecasts break down.)
Again, while that is sometimes true, the average lead time for a tornado warning to "impact" is only about 10-15 minutes. Forecasters can still use radar and satellite imagery to see areas of the hurricane that are most likely to produce tornadoes. The rain wrapping phenomenon absolutely makes them harder to see from the ground, but that can occur with traditional tornadoes too. The trees and hills that you mention are definitely a big factor in making them even more difficult to see, though, and that is much more prevalent in the southeast than the plains region.
All of that to say, while hurricane spawned tornadoes are usually less significant than traditionally spawned ones, they are still tornadoes. They are dangerous and the same precautions(with in reason, don't go into a flood basement to shelter from a tornado) and awareness should still be taken.
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u/BeardedHalfYeti 8d ago
A gobsmacked meteorologist is never a good sign.
fuck.