Are sister tornadoes real? What to know about twin weather phenomenon in 'Twisters'

Dale Denwalt, The Oklahoman
·2 min read
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Though some elements of "Twisters" are a little far-fetched, others are wholly rooted in science.

In one scene of the summer blockbuster, the crew of storm chasers following a tornado see a second twister spawn from the same storm, leading one character to shout: "We've got twins!"

But are these kinds of sister tornadoes real?

Yes, though it's rare. Here's a look at several ways this weather phenomenon can happen.

Twin tornadoes break out in the movie "Twisters," directed by Lee Isaac Chung and filmed in Oklahoma.
Twin tornadoes break out in the movie "Twisters," directed by Lee Isaac Chung and filmed in Oklahoma.

Satellite tornadoes

When a separate tornado forms independently from another twister, it's known as a "satellite" tornado. According to the Storm Prediction Center, the cause is unknown but they are more likely to form in the vicinity of larger, more intense primary tornado.

The strongest storm in recent history that produced satellite tornadoes was in 2011, when an EF5-rated tornado tore through El Reno, Piedmont and Guthrie.

More: How many tornadoes does Oklahoma have per year? State-by-state data for Tornado Alley

Multiple-vortex tornadoes

The viscous wind found inside a tornado can form multiple subvortices as it spins. While more prevalent than satellite tornadoes, a vortex can be more difficult to see behind debris and rain.

Sometimes, however, multiple vortices can be seen spinning around each other within the original lowering but usually last less than a minute.

According to the SPC, this phenomenon can add over 100 miles per hour to a tornado's wind speed in a highly localized area, causing significantly more damage to one structure compared to its neighbor.

More: 'It wasn't a given': How the film industry's growth allowed Oklahoma to land 'Twisters'

Tornado families

Another variant of multiple tornadoes is the phenomenon called a "tornado family."

This happens when two or more tornadoes spawn within the same supercell.

The devastating 1947 Woodward tornado is believed to have spawned a tornado family.

Nova Lee Turner, 7, holds onto a puppy as she looks at ravaged books amid the devastation at Madison Park School in Woodward. A deadly tornado had swept through the northwest Oklahoma town on April 9, 1947. This photo was published April 25, 1947, on the front page of The Daily Oklahoman along with a story about when children would be able to return to classes. Students would receive credit for a full school year, and school officials made plans to rebuild, though hopes of resuming school in the fall included temporary classrooms.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Are sister tornadoes real? What to know about 'Twisters' phenomenon