Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

'Sharknado 2': Three actual weather events nearly as wild

by jmaloni

Submitted

Fri, Aug 1st 2014 08:10 pm

by Courtney Spamer

Staff Writer

AccuWeather.com

"Sharknado 2: The Second One" premiered Wednesday on the Syfy Channel to great social media fanfare. The film entertained viewers with wild and nonsensical weather that spawns tornadoes that pick up large amounts of ferocious sharks. These sharks not only can survive in the vortex, but they also retain the ability to attack civilians, fueled by revenge and not physics.

While campy disaster films aren't known for their scientific integrity, the film makes some interesting inaccuracies.

But "Sharknado" fans who live in fear of a shark-filled tornado can rest easy: The idea still remains completely implausible.

However, the weather has been known to cause several head-scratching events, ranging from seemingly apocalyptic to downright bizarre.

Animals Raining from the Sky

Many popular colloquiums suggest animals pouring from the sky - from cats and dogs all the way to men. Thankfully, these remain in the same realm of possibility as a "sharknado."

However, there have been at least four documented instances of frogs raining from the sky. The most recent occurrence was in 2005, in Odzaci, Serbia.

Whirling Vortexes of Fire

"Firenadoes," also known as fire devils, are created when strong winds whip an active fire to create a vortex.

"The heat of the fire rising through the air allows the vortex to strengthen and create the 'firenado,' " AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Leister said. "The 'firenado' can then suck more brush and debris into itself and fuel the fire further."

This phenomenon can be extremely dangerous, with some reporting to be able to launch embers miles away.

'Bugnadoes' Darken Skies

While not a weather event, when an ominous vortex of bugs appears to darken skies, the name seems only fitting.

In March, residents of Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, witnessed a swarm of red locusts form into a "bugnado."

AccuWeather.com senior meteorologist Bob Smerbeck said after the event that the tornadolike appearance was likely due to a combination of wind and thermal uplift from the sun creating warmth on the ground.

 

Hometown News

View All News