'Myth Busters:' Base weatherman takes hot air out of climate cliches

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs staff
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs staff recently sat down with McConnell's most seasoned weatherman, Senior Master Sgt. Charles Hoffman, 22nd Operations Support Squadron, to clear up some weather myths. Here's what he said.

Myth: Cows always lie down before it rains.

Fact: "According to my 'Farmers' Almanac,' cows lying down before rain doesn't seem to be the most accurate weather predictor. Cows lying down in a field more often means they're chewing cud rather than preparing for raindrops.

"Interestingly enough, there are other cow sayings that are also far-fetched. Supposedly, cows produce more milk when listening to lowbrow or jazz music. The U.S. Department of Agriculture refutes this notion saying the music is more for the workers than the cows as there have been no findings to back the greater productivity theory."

Myth: People inside a building should open windows to equalize air pressure if a tornado is approaching.

Fact: "Building destruction from a tornado is not caused by pressure differences.

"To get to the center of a tornado, where the pressure may be low enough to cause some explosive effects, the windows would have to endure 100-200 mph winds in the walls of the storm's vortex. These winds would be full of boards, cows, KC-135s, and much of any neighboring city, as well as have a wind pressure of more than 100 pounds per square foot. This barrage would blow more than enough ventilation holes in the building to allow any pressure difference to be equalized. Unfortunately, by then there would be no building. It's kind of like the saying, 'Don't worry about the ice on your roof. The baseball-sized hail should knock it off."

Myth: Is there any truth to the saying, "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning, red sky at night, sailor's delight?"

Fact: "A red sky in the morning refers to haze, or particles trapped in the atmosphere that give a red hue during sunrise. The haze is indicative of high pressure. Since highs normally travel from west to east, seeing the red sky in the east, as it rises, means high pressure has passed and a low pressure system, and possibly bad weather, is on its way.

"Likewise, seeing a red sky at night means high pressure is moving in. The trapped particles are to the west and on their way, which signals fair weather."

Myth: Heat lighting causes the temperature to rise.

Fact: "There is no such thing as 'heat lightning.' This phenomena is usually people seeing lightning at a very far distance. Thunder is not heard due to the distance from the lightning, and factors such as the curvature of the earth. Since 'heat lightning' is most likely to be seen in association with air-mass type thunderstorms in the summer, the term 'heat' may be used because these flashes are often seen when surface temperatures are warm."

Myth: Lighting only strikes good conductors.

Fact: "Lightning prefers a good conductor, but if you are the tallest thing in a Kansas cornfield, you will probably be struck sooner than the metal soda can on the ground across the road."

Myth: You can outrun a tornado in a car.

Fact: "Theoretically you could, however; the odds are not in your favor. Tornadoes are sometimes impossible to see due to heavy rain. Additionally, tornadoes do not travel in straight, predictable lines.

"It is best to get out of your car and lie on the lowest point possible in your surroundings, such as a ditch or culvert."