Starkblast and tornadoes

I've been reading The Wind Through The Keyhole for a while now (I started reading the artist edition a couple of months ago, and picked up a designated reading copy today) and I've been thinking about the Starkblast. On page 220 of the Scribner edition, King describes a funnel, and I, as an Alabama resident, am immediately reminded of a tornado. This has much to do with the fact that my state was devastated by tornadoes last year (on April 27th) by more than 100 tornadoes in which more than 250 people lost their lives. I wondered how many of you imagine the Starkblast as a tornado? And, do you think King may have been inspired by the day of April 27th, 2011? The Starkblast comes when cool and warm weather meet, and it makes sense to me, with this and the description of the funnel, that the Starkblast is some form of a tornado. What do you guys think?

I thought of it more like a freezing hurricane. Tornadoes generally come out of nowhere, strike and leave with little warning, whereas hurricanes can take days to arrive, giving you some time to prepare for them, as was the case with a starkblast.

King wrote the section about the starkblast months before April 2011.

Ah, yes. That makes sense. I guess tornado was just my first thought because of where I live. I imagined a MASSIVE tornado that's followed by intense cold. But, yeah, I think hurricane makes more sense. Thanks.

Ryan

I agree with Bev. I've always pictured a starkblast as a freezing hurricane, though in a much more concentrated area. The entire concept, though, of the abnormal warmth before the storm hits intrigues me.

John

Nope, I pictured it as a tornado. I do believe he even mentions a 'funnel' in there somewhere in describing it.

Hurricanes are funnels too. :)

When I think of a supersized superpowerful hurricane with arctic temperatures.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brice

Hurricanes are funnels too. :)

When I think of a supersized superpowerful hurricane with arctic temperatures.

---

Yes. Actually all winds are, it's just a tornado's funnel is particularly tight and thus viewable, while hurricanes/gales are wide.

I imagined it as a hurricane.

I imagined it as a huge WALL of wind, blowing in one direction, super strong and for a really long time. I wonder if there's an SK FAQ somewhere where he answers the question.

I imagined it as a huge, super cold front that moves in deadly fast, like in Day After Tomorrow. Tornadoes never even crossed my mind.

At one point in Wind, King describes how the "funnel" is starting to form.

John

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bethany

I imagined it as a huge, super cold front that moves in deadly fast, like in Day After Tomorrow. Tornadoes never even crossed my mind.

---

This is how I imagined it too. Tornado seemed too insignifcant.

There was a movie a few years ago "Day After Tomorrow" with Toby Maguire I believe. End of the world kind of movie where there is another ice age. When they are in New York and everything starts to freeze suddenly. Then at a point they are in the eye of the storm and things start freezing solid within seconds. People actually freeze instantly. For some reason while i was reading Roland's description of the Starkblast after they meet Bix, this is what I thought of..