5 things the movie 'Twister' got wrong about tornadoes - and 3 things it got mostly right

Seeing the color green in the sky might indicate that a cloud is very tall, which could suggest large hail or a tornado may come, according to research meteorologist Scott Bachmeier at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But it could also be nothing.

Researchers aren't sure why skies cna look green, but according to the Weather Channel, any correlation between green skies and tornadoes is a myth.

In severe storms, mud can trap even the hardiest vehicles and impede their ability to get out of danger.

That's the issue raised by meteorologist Chris Cappella in a review of "Twister" he wrote for USA Today.

"The husband and wife chase team take incredible risks no real storm chaser would dare take (that's Hollywood)," Cappella wrote.

Prociv agreed with this in her Washington Post article. She pointed to a scene in which Jo and Bill (played by Bill Paxton) use horse reins to tie themselves to a pipe inside a shack to protect themselves from an approaching tornado. Those two would almost certainly be killed by the debris generated by such force — if not by the force itself — Prociv said.

On NOAA's website, the agency warns that taking cover under a bridge when a tornado approaches — as happens in "Twister" — is a terrible idea.

Under a bridge, you'd still be at risk of being hit by flying debris, and there's also a chance the bridge could fail and collapse around you. Being under a bridge also doesn't eliminate the possibility that you could get blown out into the storm, and you might wind up blocking other people from fleeing or obstructing the path of emergency vehicles.

In the film, Laurence (played by Jeremy Davies) attempts to take shelter from a tornado in his truck.

According to NOAA, no vehicle is safe in a tornado.

In the event that you get stuck in a car near tornado activity and can't get out of the storm's path and into a shelter, NOAA advises parking it quickly and safely (away from traffic). Then keep your seat belt on and your head down below the windows, covered with a coat or cushion.

TOTO — which stands for "TOtable Tornado Observatory" — was a 55-gallon barrel outfitted to record storm data, according to the NSSL.

The device was largely unsuccessful, however, and was retired from use in 1984.

In "Twister," the Dorothy and D.O.T.3 tools were both based on TOTO. According to NOAA, all three units are now on display at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

Meteorologist Greg Carbin from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahomatold Alabama.com that strong storms do pick up huge objects and animals, adding that livestock and pets often die in tornadoes from the sheer force or due to flying debris.

"Winds are modified by the terrain, the surroundings, the buildings the tornado is hitting. A flying cow is not all that odd," he told AL.com.

Several people involved in the writing and filming of "Twister" consulted experts to make the film more authentic.

According to NOAA, Bill Paxton and several other actors spent time at NSSL headquarters in Norman, Oklahoma to get a feel for how things operate there. Several actors also accompanied NSSL scientists on a real-life storm chase.

Even though some parts of the film still wound up being incorrect, Prociv wrote in the Washington Post that she appreciates how much interest the movie continues to generate in her field. Anything that encourages interest in meteorology and science is a good thing, she said.