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VERIFY: Yes, Straight-Line Winds Can Be As Strong As Tornadoes

You ask; we VERIFY. Straight line winds are different from tornadoes but can reach strong wind speeds and cause extensive damage.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — This spring weather season has been tumultuous at best in the Triad but thankfully not as severe as that of the previous few years.

In April 2018, an EF-2 tornado touched down in Greensboro. A person died when a tree fell and crushed a car near Summit Avenue. The twister left a path of destruction through Greensboro and Rockingham County.

Two years prior, a strong storm hit Davidson and Randolph Counties, and the damage looked similar. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but heavy rains and strong winds took down trees, blew off roofs and scattered debris. The National Weather Service determined straight-line winds, not a tornado, caused the damage.

VERIFY QUESTION

Is it true straight-line winds can be as strong and destructive as tornadoes?

VERIFY SOURCE

  • Meteorologist Terran Kirksey

VERIFY PROCESS

Kirksey explained it is true, straight-line winds can be as strong as an EF-0 or EF-1 tornado. Severe storms have wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour with gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour. Some records even show straight-line wind speeds reaching more than 100 miles per hour.

Credit: WFMY News 2

In determining whether straight-line winds or a tornado came through an area, the National Weather Service looks for signs of rotation, like a circular area of debris, which would indicate a tornado. Damage that is generally facing the same direction indicates straight-line winds.

Credit: WFMY News 2

VERIFY CONCLUSION

Yes, some straight-line winds can achieve tornado speeds and cause just as much damage.

Do you have a VERIFY inquiry? Submit a post or selfie video of the question to Meghann Mollerus via:

Facebook: MeghannMollerusNews

E-mail: Mmollerus@wfmy.com

Twitter: @MeghannMollerus

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