Why are weather disaster movies so fascinating for us?

I have just watched the movie Twisters, a remake of the 1996 movie Twister, which I enjoyed back in the day.

There are some differences, but the same basic plot; a weather scientist who has an almost mystic ability to predict tornadoes, trying to find a way to prevent them and so stop the tremendous damage that they wreak to human lives. It’s well made and fun; but this is not a review of the movie. What it made me reflect upon is why I like disaster weather movies so much.

Powerful weather

I have watched a good many of them. I am fascinated by powerful weather. As a child and teenager I used to love walking along the breakwall at any of the beaches we lived near on the NSW north coast, especially in the evening when the wind was getting up and huge waves would crash against the rocks. In a storm it was even better. I love thunderstorms and lightning. I am fascinated by images of tsunamis and hurricanes and, yes, tornadoes.