Terrain & tornadoes

[powderburner]

Dear John,

I live in Weston, WI. Weston is about 6 miles due east of Rib Mtn. Wausau area, if you're not familiar.

My buddy has a theory that Rib Mountain protects us from tornadoes. I've reminded him that in the mid or late 80's a tornado caused quite a bit of damage in the Town of Rib Mtn. itself.

I think his theory is bunk.

Who is right? Can a large hill protect an area from tornadoes?

 

[timo]

i'm no meteorologist and i don't try to play one on line but i would think that theory is absolute bunk.
seeing as a tornado develops in the sky and comes downward i would think the mountain would be more susceptible to being hit.

 

[jd]

It's bunk.

A tornado forms from a rotating super cell thunderstorm. These thunderstorms are not impacted by terrain. So if a tornado were to form on one side of the mtn. and want to cross it, it would. There are even tornadoes that hit the rockies. They are rare, but not because the mountains are there, but because the deep moisture needed to generate a super cell thunderstorm is not there.

I can also add that the mountain would not be more susceptible to being hit either.

-John