An Internet video purportedly shows a tornado being blown up. Is that possible?

Enlarge / Severe weather reports from Saturday across Tennessee and Kentucky. Note the cluster of tornado reports north of Nashville. (credit: NOAA)

Last weekend saw a tragic outbreak of tornadoes in Tennessee that killed six people and injured more than 80. In the aftermath of these deadly storms, video has emerged showing one of the tornadoes striking a power station, which appears to disrupt the circulation of the twister.

This has led to rampant online speculation—as tends to happen in 2023—about whether it’s possible to “blow up” a tornado. Take a gander at the video below:

Tennessee tornado 2023. Please be safe.

Friend from my wrestling academy captured this insane video in Madison. Please be safe. pic.twitter.com/2JDWNznfUn

— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) December 9, 2023

This tornado occurred between Madison and Goodlettsville, just north of Nashville, east of I-65. What you see is the tornado striking a power substation, followed by an explosion. The power substation belonged to Nashville Electric Service, which subsequently released a video from the substation on Monday showing the strike and explosion.