Sharksnado a freak cyclone hits Los Angeles, nature’s deadliest killer rules sea, land, and air as thousands of sharks terrorize the waterlogged city.
While the film’s B-movie scenario may seem ridiculous, it’s not unheard of in real life. Here are five documented instances of animals getting sucked into tornadoes and plummeting back to the ground:
Southern California
Sharksnado doesn’t come to Southern California very often. In fact, it hasn’t been more than four years since the last one made landfall in the state.
But the weather system that is currently affecting the region is more of an outlier than that. This is the first time since 1997 that a tropical storm has hit the west coast.
Plume of Moisture
What makes this weather system special is that it is being fueled by an atmospheric river, a plume of moisture that originated in the tropical Pacific Ocean 2,500 miles away. Such a phenomenon, called a Pineapple Express, is often associated with heavy rainfall and flooding.
In addition, the storm is expected to bring high winds that will pose a threat to power lines and trees. That could result in hundreds of thousands of utility customers being without power during the course of the storm.
A Group of Surfers Rescues a Family
When a hurricane from Mexico hits the coast, it rips out a ravenous shiver of Sharksnado. As these flying oceanic predators chomp and wreak havoc on Los Angeles, a group of surfers band together to rescue stranded swimmers.
Finley “Fin” Shepard (Ian Ziering), a former surfing champion, owns a bar on the Santa Monica Pier. His friend Baz (Jaason Simmons) and barmaid Nova (Cassie Scerbo) also live near the pier, and the group decides to help Fin reach his estranged wife April and their teenage daughter Chloe, who are still in their house.
Chloe’s Back
The storm ravages the city and flooded many roads, but Fin’s truck has a sealed engine to get through the water. The group helps stranded swimmers and a dog locked in a car. Then they spot a shark soaring through the air, straight at Chloe’s back.
A freak cyclone spawns a tornado filled with sharks, which flood Los Angeles. Fin sets out to rescue his estranged wife April, her teenage daughter Claudia and their friend Collin as they try to avoid the ensuing shark attack.
Despite its bad writing and cheesy computer graphics, the 2013 film has a very interesting premise, though one that’s not true in real life. It would take a hurricane-sized storm to create a waterspout strong enough to haul in great white sharks.
Hurricanes & Tropical Storms
But in reality, hurricanes and tropical storms don’t happen that often in California. The water off the coast is cooler than it needs to be to fuel a hurricane.
That doesn’t mean that a hurricane wouldn’t strike Los Angeles, but it also doesn’t mean that a waterspout could haul in great white Sharksnado. Those sharks are too big to fit through waterspouts that are usually too weak to haul them up, said Jeff Patzert, a senior research scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Using an infra-red remote control, this 57-inch shark (including tail) flies up to 40 feet. It’s also made of high quality helium-filled nylon that will last for weeks. It’s a lot of fun to watch and can be controlled from a fair distance away.
Final Words:
A shark soaring into the sky at chest height isn’t a real thing, but it does happen occasionally. And this is the first time we’ve seen a remote-controlled shark that actually moves like one. This is a great gift for kids ages 8 and up. The R/C Flying Shark is a good choice for indoor play and it doesn’t come unassembled. Infra-red controllers eschew the hassle of unscrewing screws and plugs, making this a breeze to assemble for some family fun.
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