<p>I'd have to say a tornado would be more dangerous than a straight wind of equal speed. Tornados have a very low-pressure center and violent updrafts as can be seen in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmpqbKORv-Q" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this YouTube video </a>. As the roofs are blown off you'll notice they get blown upward as well as sideways.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-19T18:58:51.963Z
2018-09-19T18:58:51.963Z
BillDOe
<p>I think that in this situation the primary difference would be the fact that the tornado is more capable of moving air (and possibly objects) upwards. Whereas regular wind would mainly cause lateral displacement of entrained objects. Consequently it is also dependent on the setting: the lateral wind might cause high waves and flooding in a coastal setting.
A second consideration originates from the driving forces: regular winds are mainly driven by air pressure gradients which on itself are not 'dangerous'. Tornado's, on the other hand, often are induced by weather systems that include heavy electrical charges (potential thunderstroms) and hail. 
This might not answer your question explicitly but I hope this gives some insight in the considerations </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-19T11:00:22.440Z
2018-09-19T11:00:22.440Z
NiRo
<p><a href="https://docsbay.net/straight-line-winds-vs-tornado" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Straight-Line Winds vs. Tornado</a> point out that Straight-Line Wind from thunderstorms is much more common than damage from tornadoes. In fact, many confuse damage produced by straight-line winds and often erroneously attribute it to tornadoes,could speculate a tornado as dangerous as straight wind.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>IN - all wind flows INTO a tornado. Debris is often laying at angles
  due to the curving of the inflow winds <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/OjrqH.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OjrqH.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>OUT - all wind flows OUT from a downburst. Debris is often laying in
  straight lines (hence the term "straight line winds") parallel to the
  outward wind flow <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ysBEZ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ysBEZ.png" alt="enter image description here"></a> When
  extensive damage is noted, the National Weather Service may dispatch a
  damage survey team to determine the cause and nature of wind damage.
  Survey teams look for evidence of a circulation in debris fields to
  determine if the damage is straight-line winds or a tornado. Based on
  the degree of damage and damage indicators, a maximum wind speed is
  assigned to either the downburst or tornado.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-30T03:43:59.120Z
This presents some interesting facts but it doesn't answer the question of whether a a tornado is more dangerous than a straight wind.
Fred
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-30T03:07:11.997Z
2019-04-30T03:07:11.997Z
Michael L Johnson
<p>If we have a place with wind at a given speed, and a tornado at the same speed, are they equally dangerous, or the tornado is more powerful?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-30T19:16:12.030Z
It's not really a question that has a practical answer, because you don't get ordinary winds that are tornado speeds.
jamesqf
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-08T16:30:01.190Z
I've always wondered this question as well, but likewise don't have the background to answer it.  I'd think yes.  (With the caveat that the 3-dimensional wind is really the important one)  Maybe a structural engineer can answer better?
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-09T14:51:53.447Z
given that tornadoes are small isolated events and lateral wind can extend for hundreds of miles I am going to say lateral winds.
John
<wind><tropical-cyclone><storms><tornado>
At the same speed, is a tornado as dangerous as straight wind?
Domenico Bagnato
# At the same speed, is a tornado as dangerous as straight wind?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-15)

If we have a place with wind at a given speed, and a tornado at the same speed, are they equally dangerous, or the tornado is more powerful?

**Tags:** wind, tropical-cyclone, storms, tornado

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's not really a question that has a practical answer, because you don't get ordinary winds that are tornado speeds.  
> **username_2**: I've always wondered this question as well, but likewise don't have the background to answer it.  I'd think yes.  (With the caveat that the 3-dimensional wind is really the important one)  Maybe a structural engineer can answer better?  
> **username_3**: given that tornadoes are small isolated events and lateral wind can extend for hundreds of miles I am going to say lateral winds.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-09-19. Score: 1

I'd have to say a tornado would be more dangerous than a straight wind of equal speed. Tornados have a very low-pressure center and violent updrafts as can be seen in [this YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmpqbKORv-Q) . As the roofs are blown off you'll notice they get blown upward as well as sideways.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2018-09-19. Score: 0

I think that in this situation the primary difference would be the fact that the tornado is more capable of moving air (and possibly objects) upwards. Whereas regular wind would mainly cause lateral displacement of entrained objects. Consequently it is also dependent on the setting: the lateral wind might cause high waves and flooding in a coastal setting.
A second consideration originates from the driving forces: regular winds are mainly driven by air pressure gradients which on itself are not 'dangerous'. Tornado's, on the other hand, often are induced by weather systems that include heavy electrical charges (potential thunderstroms) and hail.
This might not answer your question explicitly but I hope this gives some insight in the considerations


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### Answer by username_6 on 2019-04-30. Score: 0

[Straight-Line Winds vs. Tornado](https://docsbay.net/straight-line-winds-vs-tornado) point out that Straight-Line Wind from thunderstorms is much more common than damage from tornadoes. In fact, many confuse damage produced by straight-line winds and often erroneously attribute it to tornadoes,could speculate a tornado as dangerous as straight wind.

> IN - all wind flows INTO a tornado. Debris is often laying at angles
> due to the curving of the inflow winds [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/OjrqH.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/OjrqH.jpg)
>
> OUT - all wind flows OUT from a downburst. Debris is often laying in
> straight lines (hence the term "straight line winds") parallel to the
> outward wind flow [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ysBEZ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ysBEZ.png) When
> extensive damage is noted, the National Weather Service may dispatch a
> damage survey team to determine the cause and nature of wind damage.
> Survey teams look for evidence of a circulation in debris fields to
> determine if the damage is straight-line winds or a tornado. Based on
> the degree of damage and damage indicators, a maximum wind speed is
> assigned to either the downburst or tornado.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: This presents some interesting facts but it doesn't answer the question of whether a a tornado is more dangerous than a straight wind.  

---

