Top 15+ Weather Myths That Are Totally False

Heat Lightning is a Real Type of Lightning

This might be the most widespread weather myth of all time, and it's completely false. There's no such thing as heat lightning - that "heat lightning" is just regular lightning from a thunderstorm that is too far away for the thunder to be heard. The myth probably started because we often see distant lightning flashes on hot summer evenings when there's no storm overhead where we're standing. The distant lightning you see but don't hear on summer nights is a product of heat, but in the same way that all storms are. And storms are required for lightning to occur. What's actually happening is that you're seeing lightning from storms that can be 50 to 100 miles away. Thunder can typically only be heard up to about 10 to 15 miles from a lightning strike. Lightning, however, can be seen from much farther away—sometimes 50 miles or more, especially at night, if those storms are strong and tall. The heat and humidity aren't creating lightning out of thin air – you're just witnessing nature's light show from a safe distance.

Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice

This classic saying might work as a metaphor for rare events, but it's meteorologically nonsense. Lightning never strikes the same place twice is a myth - lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it's a tall, pointy, isolated object. The Empire State Building gets hit around 23 times a year. Think about it logically – if a location has the right conditions to attract lightning once (like being the tallest object in an area), those same conditions will likely exist again. As one of the tallest structures in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty also gets struck by lightning. Its height and conductive copper make it a natural target. So if you're caught in a lightning storm, don't assume you're safe just because lightning struck nearby – you need to seek proper shelter immediately.

You're Safe From Lightning if it's Not Raining

This dangerous misconception could literally cost you your life. If you can hear thunder, you're within striking distance. Lightning can strike up to 10 miles from a storm—far beyond where it's raining. Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud. "Bolts from the blue" can strike 10-15 miles from the thunderstorm. These "bolts from the blue" are particularly dangerous because they seem to come out of nowhere on what appears to be a clear day. The National Weather Service has a simple rule that could save your life: when thunder roars, go indoors. Don't wait to see rain or dark clouds overhead – if you can hear thunder, you're already in the danger zone.

Opening Windows Before a Tornado Prevents House Damage

This myth has probably wasted precious seconds that could have been used for life-saving shelter. The myth that opening windows will equalize pressure and prevent a tornado from destroying your home is false. Tornadoes don't destroy homes because of pressure changes. They do so with extreme winds and flying debris. Opening windows only wastes valuable time and could let dangerous winds inside. Instead, seek shelter immediately. Equalizing pressure in a house to keep it from exploding was the basis of this myth. It's useless and you'd be wasting precious time to get to real safety before a tornado strikes. It's the high winds and flying debris that cause damage to structures, not a pressure difference. When a tornado warning is issued, forget about the windows and focus on getting to the safest part of your home as quickly as possible.

Hiding Under Highway Overpasses is Safe During Tornadoes

This myth is not just wrong – it's deadly. The myth that seeking shelter under an overpass is safe is dangerous. Experts warn that an overpass is not a safe shelter if a tornado is approaching. Winds will actually funnel under the bridge and accelerate, which can cause the car to be pulled out. Debris is another concern as the tornado can slam cars and other objects underneath bridges. Winds can actually be more dangerous there due to the tunneling effect of the bridge over the roadway. If a tornado is coming and you can't make it to a building, the National Weather Service recommends either getting down low in the car and covering your head, or abandoning the vehicle and lying down in a low spot like a ditch or ravine. The overpass creates a wind tunnel effect that actually makes things worse, not better. If you're caught on the highway during a tornado, your car or a low-lying ditch is actually safer than an overpass.

Green Skies Always Mean a Tornado is Coming

While green skies can be dramatic and ominous, they're not a reliable tornado predictor. While severe weather events have been known to produce clouds with a green hue, there is no known correlation between green skies and tornadoes. Green skies are typically caused by hail-producing derechos; the height of the cloud can also cause a green color to be visible. A big misconception is that dark green and blue clouds could signal that there is a tornado. These clouds are typically only an indication of a strong thunderstorm, not necessarily a tornado. Tall and towering thunderstorm clouds cause light to be reflected in such a way that the cloud can appear green. The green color is more often associated with large hail production rather than tornado formation. While severe weather might be present when you see green skies, don't use cloud color as your only warning system – stick to official weather alerts and warnings.

Tornadoes Can't Cross Mountains, Rivers, or Lakes

Geography doesn't stop tornadoes – they're much more powerful than people give them credit for. While certain geographic areas can be less prone to tornadoes, they can still travel across mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers. One extreme and recent example happened on June 6, 2000, when an EF1 tornado caused tree damage at an elevation of 9,200 feet in Wyoming's Snowy Mountain Range. The myth that tornadoes can't occur on hills or mountains and the Ozarks protect us is simply not true. Although tornadoes are less common due to mountains having cooler, more stable air, it's not impossible. In 1987, an EF-4 tornado touched down in Grand Teton where the elevation was 10,000 feet and traveled through Yellowstone National Park. This was the strongest tornado that has ever been recorded in the state of Wyoming. Water bodies and elevation changes might influence a tornado's path slightly, but they won't stop a determined twister. The storms that create tornadoes are massive systems that dwarf even the largest geographical features.

You Can Outrun a Tornado in Your Car

This Hollywood-inspired myth has led to tragic consequences in real life. Often people try to avoid or outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Although cars can travel faster than the average tornado, the directive from the National Weather Service is for house-dwellers in the path of a tornado to take shelter at home rather than risk an escape by vehicle. This is a result of several factors and statistics. The myth that if you can see a tornado, you can outrun it in your car is false. Tornadoes move unpredictably, and trying to outrun one can put you in even greater danger. Instead, drive at a right angle away from the tornado's path or find a sturdy shelter immediately. Tornadoes can change direction suddenly, accelerate without warning, and create debris fields that can disable your vehicle. Cars can be heavily damaged by even weak tornadoes, and in violent tornadoes they can be thrown large distances, even into buildings. Your best bet is always a sturdy building or designated storm shelter.

Touching a Lightning Strike Victim Will Electrocute You

This myth is particularly tragic because it prevents people from providing life-saving help. The myth that a lightning victim is electrified and if you touch them, you'll be electrocuted is false. The human body does not store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid. A lightning victim does not carry an electric charge. It is safe to touch them and critical to act quickly. Call 911 and begin first aid or CPR immediately. The most common cause of death from lightning is cardiac arrest. This is the most chilling of lightning myths. Imagine if someone died because people were afraid to give CPR! Time is critical with lightning strike victims, so don't hesitate to provide immediate assistance while waiting for emergency responders.

The Southwest Corner of Your Basement is Always Safest

This oddly specific myth has been around for decades, but it's not based on science. This myth came from the thought that all tornado-producing storms track in a northeast direction, with the idea being that if your home is hit by a tornado, all flying debris would be directed to the northeast away from you. Most tornadoes do travel from some sort of west-to-east direction, but not always southwest to northeast. The best place to seek shelter is an interior room with no windows (possibly a closet, bathroom or hallway) in a basement or the lowest level of your home. Yes, the basement is one of the safest places during a tornado warning, but it doesn't matter which corner you pick. Find a spot near something sturdy if you can. Under a stairwell, doorframe, next to furniture or under a table are a few great locations. The key is finding the most structurally sound area of your lowest level, regardless of which direction it faces. Focus on interior walls, sturdy furniture, and staying away from windows.

Meteorologists Are Wrong 50% of the Time

This persistent criticism of weather forecasters is largely unfair and outdated. Meteorologists are wrong 50% of the time aren't they? Well, No, the forecasts are actually pretty good these days. People just tend to remember the occasional wrong forecast that impacts them and not the overwhelming majority of forecasts that were correct. Or, I find that many just don't understand what "40% Chance of Rain" means. Modern weather forecasting has improved dramatically with advanced computer models, satellite technology, and radar systems. Computer models solving complex equations governing fluid flow are used to make your 1-7 day weather forecasts. The accuracy of weather forecasts has steadily increased over the past decades, with 5-day forecasts today being as accurate as 3-day forecasts were 20 years ago. People tend to have selective memory, remembering the forecast that ruined their picnic while forgetting the hundreds of accurate predictions that helped them plan their daily activities.

Animals Can Predict Weather Better Than Meteorologists

While animals do show some sensitivity to atmospheric changes, they're not the weather prophets many people believe them to be. The myth that if a rooster crows at night, there will be rain by morning is false. Actually, roosters crow whenever they want, day or night. The idea that roosters crow only at dawn is a misconception. The only reason roosters rarely crow at night is because they are diurnal animals that sleep at night. If a rooster does crow at night, any number of factors could be to blame. The animal could be sick, he may sense a predator, or he may just be feeling a bit antsy. Studies show many animals can sense bad weather, and it may be that some roosters do crow if rain is on the way, but the correlation certainly isn't as cut and dry as this myth suggests. The myth that when dogs eat grass, you can expect a severe storm is false. Nearly every dog eats a little grass at some point, and some dogs eat it as often as they can get it. The timing of when a dog eats grass, or how much, has to do with evolution, and with the individual dog. Dogs evolved as omnivores and scavengers. They eat both meat and vegetation, and historically found their food wherever they could get it. In the wild, dogs would have eaten grass regularly to supplement their nutrition. In addition, grass probably tastes good to most dogs, like a fresh salad to humans. Many dogs will also eat grass when they have an upset stomach. Because most healthy dogs can eat grass without throwing it back up, some veterinarians believe that the texture of grass helps to induce vomiting when a dog is already feeling nauseated. None of this, of course, has anything at all to do with the weather.

You Can't See Water Vapor

This one trips up a lot of people because they think they're seeing something they're actually not. You can't see water vapor. Water vapor is the gaseous phase of water. What you see coming off hot pavement, out of your shower, or rising from a pond isn't water vapor at all – it's tiny water droplets that have already condensed back into liquid form. True water vapor is completely invisible to the naked eye. When people point to "steam" and call it water vapor, they're actually looking at microscopic water droplets suspended in the air. This might seem like a trivial distinction, but understanding the difference helps explain how humidity, cloud formation, and precipitation actually work. The invisible water vapor in the air around us is what eventually condenses into the visible clouds, fog, and "steam" we can observe.

Metal Objects and Jewelry Attract Lightning

This myth causes people to waste precious time removing jewelry and metal objects when they should be seeking shelter. The myth that structures with metal, or metal on the body (jewelry, cell phones, Mp3 players, watches, etc), attract lightning is false. Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. The presence of metal makes absolutely no difference on where lightning strikes. Natural objects that are tall and isolated, but are made of little to no metal, like trees and mountains get struck by lightning many times a year. When lightning threatens, take proper protective action immediately by seeking a safe shelter and don't waste time removing metal. While metal does not attract lightning, it does conduct it so stay away from metal fences, railing, bleachers, etc. The key factors for lightning strikes are height, shape, and isolation – not the presence of metal. However, while metal doesn't attract lightning, it does conduct electricity, so you should avoid large metal structures during storms for that reason.