Do You Open Windows During A Tornado [new] Direct
| Do Not Do This | Do This Instead | | :--- | :--- | | Open windows to "equalize pressure." | Keep windows closed to prevent wind entry. | | Stand near windows to watch the storm. | Move to an interior, windowless room immediately. | | Waste time unlocking and cranking windows. | Use that time to gather family and pets into the shelter. |
The idea that a house will explode due to the low pressure inside a tornado's core was once standard wisdom but has since been debunked. Open or closed windows in a tornado? do you open windows during a tornado
Most tornado damage comes from extreme winds and flying debris—not pressure changes. A tornado’s winds can exceed 200 mph, turning broken branches, glass, and even cars into high-speed projectiles. | Do Not Do This | Do This
Modern research, including studies by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and wind engineering teams, has debunked this theory completely: | | Waste time unlocking and cranking windows
Even with all windows and doors shut, modern houses have vents, gaps, and other openings that naturally equalize pressure within seconds. The idea that a tornado could “explode” a house like an overinflated balloon simply doesn’t match physical reality.
