You’ve seen the photo. It’s iconic. A man stands behind a red lawnmower, casually trimming his grass while a massive, swirling grey funnel cloud looms like a monster in the background. It looks fake. It looks like a Photoshop disaster from the early 2000s or a high-budget movie poster for a dark comedy about suburban apathy. But the story of the guy mowing lawn with tornado is actually 100% real. It happened in Three Hills, Alberta, back in June 2017.
The man in the photo is Theunis Wessels. At the time, the image went nuclear on social media, sparking thousands of memes about "dad energy" and the relentless pursuit of a tidy yard. But beyond the jokes, there’s a fascinating look at how we perceive risk, how storms actually behave, and what was going through his head when he decided that a literal twister wasn't going to stop his Saturday chores.
Why the Guy Mowing Lawn With Tornado Didn't Panic
Most people see a tornado and run for the basement. That is the correct, sane, and expert-recommended response. Theunis Wessels did the opposite. When his wife, Cecilia, took the photo, she wasn't trying to document a daredevil stunt. She was actually taking a nap and woke up to find her husband still outside despite the darkening sky.
The reason he stayed out there? Perspective.
From the angle of the photo, the tornado looks like it’s about to swallow the Wessels' house whole. In reality, it was much further away than it appeared. Theunis later told reporters that he was "keeping an eye on it." He noted that the storm was moving away from the house, not toward it. In his mind, it wasn't a threat; it was just a localized weather event happening a few kilometers off.
🔗 Read more: I-93 North Traffic Update: Why Everything Ground to a Halt Today
It sounds crazy. It probably was a bit risky. But in rural Alberta, where the horizon is wide and you can see weather coming from miles away, locals often develop a different relationship with the sky. You learn to read the wind. You see which way the debris is spinning. If it's not coming for you, you finish the task at hand. For Wessels, that task was the back lawn.
The Science of Forced Perspective
The "guy mowing lawn with tornado" image is a masterclass in forced perspective. This is the same trick used in movies like The Lord of the Rings to make humans look like giants next to hobbits. Because the camera lens compresses the distance between the foreground (the mower) and the background (the tornado), they appear to be on the same plane.
Meteorologists who analyzed the Three Hills tornado noted it was an EF0 or EF1—relatively weak by tornado standards, but still capable of flipping cars or destroying sheds. While it looked like it was in the backyard, it was actually a couple of miles away.
Still, weather is unpredictable. A "stationary" tornado can change direction in seconds. The inflow of a storm can pull objects toward it, and lightning is often a bigger killer than the funnel itself. Mowing a lawn—essentially holding onto a large metal object while standing in an open field—during a storm is generally considered a terrible idea by every safety organization on the planet, including Environment Canada.
📖 Related: Why Is It So Cloudy Today? The Science and Luck Behind Your Gray Skies
Social Media and the Birth of a Legend
When Cecilia Wessels posted that photo to Facebook to show her parents in South Africa what was happening in her new Canadian home, she didn't expect it to go viral. Within hours, it was everywhere. It tapped into a very specific brand of humor.
- The stoicism of the Canadian prairie.
- The "dad" urge to complete a chore no matter what.
- The absurdity of the modern world where everything is on fire (or spinning) and we just keep going.
It became a "This is Fine" meme in real life. People identified with it. We all have our own metaphorical tornadoes—work stress, global crises, personal drama—and sometimes, the only thing you can control is the height of your grass.
Was It Actually Dangerous?
Honestly? Yes. Even if the tornado was moving away, the "guy mowing lawn with tornado" was at risk from "wraparound" rain and hail. Tornadoes are often part of a larger supercell. These systems produce downbursts and erratic winds that can extend far beyond the visible funnel.
The Three Hills tornado ended up damaging some rural properties, though no one was killed. Had the wind shifted, Wessels would have had zero time to react. The lawnmower itself produces noise that would have masked the "freight train" sound people often describe when a tornado approaches. He was essentially deaf to the primary warning sign of a direct hit.
The Aftermath of the Viral Moment
The Wessels family became overnight celebrities. They were interviewed by the BBC, CNN, and every major Canadian outlet. Theunis remained remarkably chill about the whole thing. He wasn't trying to be a hero or a meme; he just wanted his weekend back.
📖 Related: Mississippi River Water Level New Orleans: What Most People Get Wrong
This story highlights a strange quirk of human psychology called "normalcy bias." When faced with a massive, life-altering threat, our brains often try to minimize it to keep us calm. We tell ourselves, "It’s not that bad," or "It’s further away than it looks." In Wessels' case, his bias happened to be backed up by a lucky break in the storm's path.
Real Lessons for Storm Safety
While the photo is funny, it’s a poor template for survival. If you find yourself in a similar situation, experts from the National Weather Service suggest these steps instead of reaching for the mower:
- Monitor Local Radar: Don't rely on your eyes. Tornadoes can be rain-wrapped and invisible until they are on top of you.
- Identify the Inflow: If the wind is blowing hard toward the storm, you are in the danger zone.
- Shelter Immediately: A "weak" tornado can still throw a 2x4 through a brick wall.
- Forget the Chores: The lawn will be there tomorrow. You might not be.
The legacy of the guy mowing lawn with tornado isn't about bravery; it's about the strange, stubborn nature of humans. We crave routine. We want our yards to look nice. And sometimes, we're willing to ignore a literal act of God to get the job done.
Understanding Your Risk
If you live in a tornado-prone area—whether it's "Tornado Alley" in the US or the Canadian Prairies—it's vital to have a plan that doesn't involve power tools.
- Get a NOAA Weather Radio. It's the only thing that will wake you up at 3 AM if a warning is issued.
- Know your "Safe Place." This should be an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.
- Keep your lawn clear of debris. Ironically, a well-maintained lawn is safer in a storm because there are fewer projectiles, but you should do that maintenance when the sun is out.
Theunis Wessels got lucky. He got a great story and a photo that will live forever on the internet. But for the rest of us, seeing a funnel cloud should be the ultimate "stop what you're doing" signal. Put the mower in the garage. Get inside. The grass can grow another inch.
Actionable Next Steps for Homeowners
Don't wait for a funnel cloud to think about storm prep. Start by identifying your home's strongest point—usually a basement or a small closet under a staircase. Clear out any junk in that space so you can actually fit your family inside it. Next, download a reliable weather app like RadarScope or the Red Cross Emergency app, which provides high-resolution data that’s much more accurate than just looking out the window. Finally, make sure your insurance policy covers wind and hail damage; many people assume they are covered only to find out their "act of God" clauses are surprisingly thin. Stay safe, stay inside, and leave the lawn for a sunny day.