Is Twisters Inspired By Real-Life Events? Here’s What We Know

“Twisters,” the highly anticipated 2024 sequel to the 1996 blockbuster “Twister,” centers on a scientist’s ambitious dream.

From Studying Tornadoes to Confronting Them

In the original “Twister,” storm chasers studied tornadoes, but “Twisters” takes a bold step further by having characters confront and attempt to neutralize these natural disasters. This concept reflects the ongoing curiosity and research about stopping tornadoes. Despite various proposed methods over the years, none have proven effective or feasible. Real-world efforts are better directed towards practical solutions for saving lives and protecting property rather than attempting to stop tornadoes.

Early Weather Modification Efforts

The United States began serious attempts at weather modification in the 1940s. Government officials and researchers sought ways to tailor weather conditions to meet national needs, such as improving flight safety, bringing moisture to drought-prone areas, and protecting crops. Some even aimed to use weather for military purposes or to mitigate hurricanes. Techniques like cloud seeding involved adding agents like silver iodide to clouds to induce precipitation. While large storm systems like hurricanes were the primary focus, tornado research also included speculative ideas about weather control.

National Severe Storms Project and Early Proposals

In 1961, a civil engineer contacted the National Severe Storms Project (NSSP), suggesting a bold idea to combat tornadoes using unmanned aircraft and napalm to disrupt their formation. Although the proposal included a sketch illustrating the concept, it did not seem entirely outlandish to some officials. One NSSP researcher noted that while the idea sounded theoretically possible, guiding the missile would be challenging. This era’s belief in harnessing weather control was part of the post-World War II optimism that humans could master nature.

Twisters – Continuing the Pursuit of Tornado Knowledge

Even today, scientists struggle to understand fundamental aspects of tornadoes, such as their formation and wind speeds. During the Cold War, there was a belief that with enough research and technological advancement, weather control could become a reality. As historian Kristine Harper explains, weather control efforts reflected the Cold War-era confidence in human ability to control nature. Team members often speculated that controlling tornadoes would be feasible once more was known about them.

Real-World Challenges and Research Shifts

In the Great Plains, the desire to control tornadoes was understandable, especially after devastating events like the Palm Sunday outbreak in 1965, which killed 271 people and caused significant damage. Despite the devastation, researchers were still far from understanding how tornadoes formed, let alone stopping them. Many weather researchers were skeptical of wide-scale weather modification, recognizing the atmosphere’s complexity and the potential unintended consequences of altering it.

Tornado Control as a Funding Strategy

In the 1970s, some atmospheric scientists used the idea of tornado control to secure research funding from elected officials in the Great Plains. This led to the launch of the Tornado Intercept Project in 1972, the first scientific storm-chasing effort by researchers at the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Combining ground observations with Doppler radar data, these efforts significantly advanced the understanding of tornadoes. However, as scientists learned more, they realized the immense complexity of tornadoes.

Declining Faith in Technological Fixes

By the end of the 1970s, confidence in technological solutions and the funding they attracted began to decline. Official interest in weather modification and tornado control waned by the 1980s. Alongside bureaucratic and financial challenges, scientists increasingly doubted the feasibility of preventing tornadoes due to their inherent complexity. Research shifted towards more practical approaches to mitigate the impact of tornadoes rather than attempting to control them directly.

The protagonist, Kate Cooper, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, aims to neutralize tornadoes by launching absorbent polymer material into them to remove moisture. This innovative premise transforms tornadoes into controllable movie monsters, presenting a unique and captivating storyline.