Anniversary of Oklahoma Tornado That Inspired the Movie ‘Twister’

Here's something I learned today, the movie 'Twister' was based off of a real life event.

Living in tornado alley around this time of the year, we're used to being prepared for tornadoes potentially touching down. If you were a kid of the 90's like myself, you were either fascinated or terrified of the movie 'Twister'. I thought this was just Hollywood story about storm chasing. Turns out, its based off an event in Oklahoma that happened on this day in 1985.

April 29,1985 TOTO Deployed in Ardmore, Oklahoma

Remember in 'Twister' when they try to get a tornado to suck up their equipment called Dorthy? Turns out that was a nod to the real science equipment used on this date for the first time ever in Ardmore, Oklahoma. TOTO actually has a meaning unlike Dorthy.  "TOtable Tornado Observatory." is what it stands for. The filmmakers thought it would be a fun way to honor tornado history by naming their equipment after the other Wizard of Oz character that got sucked up in the tornado.

Fun Fact, Dorthy and Toto are Together in Oklahoma Right Now

For those who love Twister or just storm chasing in general. The actual TOTO is currently on display at the National Weather Center and OU School of Meteorology in Norman, Oklahoma. It's Hollywood counterpart Dorthy is also right next to it so folks can see the real history and the movie history in one place. 

So the next time you watch 'Twister', just remember some guys in Oklahoma were trying to pull that off in 1985.