What would 500 mph winds do?

In short, the answer to Grey's question is yes—500 mph winds would send you flying through the air. But don't worry about that. Instead, worry about is the thing that created the 500 mph winds. Odds are, that's what's going to kill you.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on what-if.xkcd.com


Can a tornado reach 500 mph?

No, a 500 mph tornado cannot happen. A 5 mile wide tornado cannot happen.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on stormtrack.org


What wind speed will lift a human?

"If you are a larger person, or a heavier person, it would take a lot more force to knock you off your feet," Parker says. "For a person who weighs 100 pounds (45.3 kilograms), it would take a wind speed of 40 to 45 miles an hour, or tropical storm force, to move them."
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on science.howstuffworks.com


WHAT CAN 1000 mph winds do?

The end of the world wouldn't be pretty. If a big asteroid — like the one whizzing by on Wednesday — slammed into the Earth, ferocious winds of up to 1,000 mph and intense shock waves would kill the most people, according to a study published Wednesday.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on 11alive.com


What's the worst wind mph?

Then, at 1:21 pm on April 12, 1934, the extreme value of 231 mph out of the southeast was recorded. This would prove to be the highest natural surface wind velocity ever officially recorded by means of an anemometer, anywhere in the world.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mountwashington.org


Deadliest Space Weather: 900 mph Winds in Washington, DC



What's the strongest wind ever recorded on Earth?

The highest wind speed ever recorded occurred on Barrow Island, Australia. On April 10th, 1996, an unmanned weather station measured a 253 mph wind gust during Tropical Cyclone Olivia.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on weatherology.com


Is a Hypercane possible?

The giant hurricanes might even have been partly responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs. The good news is, hypercanes still are strictly hypothetical, although some scientists say it's possible that they could appear any time, given the right conditions.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on sun-sentinel.com


Are 500 mph winds possible?

The good news is that 500 mph winds are rare. The strongest hurricanes have wind speeds around 200 mph with gusts up to 250.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on what-if.xkcd.com


What would 200 mph winds do?

“Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.” Category 2: 96 to 110 mph.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on usnews.com


What is the highest wind speed ever recorded in the United States?

Mount Washington 's famous wind gust of 231 mph, recorded on April 12, 1934 at the Mount Washington Observatory , stands as the record for the fastest surface wind measured in the Northern and Western Hemispheres.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mountwashington.org


Can air cut you?

Up close, a compressed air can easily cut human flesh. But at a distance, the compressed air expands rapidly and can no long be a cutting tool (nothing is sharp any more at a distance).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on worldbuilding.stackexchange.com


How strong is 300 mph winds?

The strongest tornadoes can produce winds of around 300 mph which are capable of destroying all but specially designed, tornado-proof structures. Fortunately, tornadoes this powerful are also quite rare.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on agweek.com


Can you stand in 150 mph winds?

Roughly the takeoff speed of a commercial jet, 150 mph sustained winds would have left virtually nothing standing. On that Thursday, scientists reported a 154 mph wind gust had occurred near where Laura's eye moved ashore.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on washingtonpost.com


What can 100 mph winds do?

Are damaging winds really a big deal? Damage from severe thunderstorm winds account for half of all severe reports in the lower 48 states and is more common than damage from tornadoes. Wind speeds can reach up to 100 mph and can produce a damage path extending for hundreds of miles.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nssl.noaa.gov


Can you survive an EF0 tornado?

Though well-built structures are typically unscathed by EF0 tornadoes, falling trees and tree branches can injure and kill people, even inside a sturdy structure. Between 35 and 40% of all annual tornadoes in the U.S. are rated EF0.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


When was the last EF5 tornado?

– It has been nine years since a catastrophic EF-5 tornado was last documented in the United States. It has also been the longest span between "5-rated" twisters in historical records dating to 1950. The nation's last EF-5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on foxweather.com


Can you survive 200 mph winds?

Anyone foolhardy enough to go outside won't fare any better — 200-mph winds are well above what a person is capable of withstanding. "We have observed that a person cannot stand up in winds above about 75 mph without being strapped or tethered to some support," Barlow said.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on usatoday.com


Can a house withstand 200 mph winds?

It is the building material that architects and engineers increasingly turn to for homes meant to withstand extreme weather and hurricanes. ICF can stand up against winds over 200 miles per hour, and the additional insulation means the concrete cures even stronger than standard concrete forms.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on foxblocks.com


How fast is a tornado?

Movement can range from almost stationary to more than 60 mph. A typical tornado travels at around 10–20 miles per hour.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nssl.noaa.gov


How fast is a Hypercane?

Hypercanes would have wind speeds of over 800 kilometres per hour (500 mph), potentially gusting to 970 km/h (600 mph), and would also have a central pressure of less than 700 hectopascals (20.67 inHg), giving them an enormous lifespan of at least several weeks.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


What is a super tornado?

A severe, usually isolated thunderstorm characterized by a strong rotating updraft and often giving rise to damaging winds, electrical storms, flooding, large hail, and tornadoes.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thefreedictionary.com


Why do hurricane names retired?

Storm names are retired if they were so deadly or destructive that the future use of the name would be insensitive. (When a name is retired, it's replaced by a new name.)
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on almanac.com


Is a category 6 hurricane possible?

And with researchers forecasting climate change to produce more of these "superstorms" in the future as the planet continues to warm, some climate scientists are suggesting that a "Category 6" be added to the wind scale.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on starnewsonline.com


What would happen if two tornadoes collide?

Usually one storm can capture the other only if it's much larger and stronger. Otherwise, the two storms eventually break free from each other and continue on. Tornadoes also have been seen rotating around each other.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on washingtonpost.com


How fast is the wind on Mars?

Because the atmosphere is so thin, high wind velocities are needed to move sand and dust. Surface winds typically move about 16 to 32 kilometers (10 to 20 miles) per hour. The Viking Landers measured speeds of up to 113 kilometers (70 miles) per hour during dust storms.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on airandspace.si.edu
Previous question
Is the crying child named Chris?