News DetailINCREDIBLE tornado video from Pawnee/Osage Co, Oklahoma!
Posted At: May 2, 2008 @ 12:31 AM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Tornadoes
Here is the video of several tornadoes that touched down today in Pawnee/Osage County, OK, shot by the TVN stream #1 team of Matt Chatelain, Daniel Betten, Matt Van Every, and Curtis McDonald. We made it to the storm in time for the last tornado, which was completely illuminated by several power flashes in succession. However, we missed the first few high-contrast tornadoes that TVN stream 1 intercepted. AMAZING supercell! When we punched the core there was barely anything left of the hail shaft, but the tornado was still violent and a strong stovepipe. Now we're headed to Little Rock!
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Incredibly beautiful footage!
Awsome video guys!! hopefully we will get something good up here later today
The most majestic footage I've seen of a tornado! - were there 4 separate tornadoes on that clip? What a day - shows the value of having 3 coordinated teams.
Frigging awesome!
That makes me want to go chasing tomorrow!
Duick
What an excellent video =)
hey how about getting the live streaming going! I would love to view the action live, even if you guys are just driving.
The end is creepy.
How many tornadoes are in this clip?
Good footage....that night vision mode seems pretty nice.
that camera is in night vision mode? thats amazing
That's my guess anyway....
a high risk might be issued today because we are bprder line with high risk now.
Smudge, from what I saw, they weren't very co-ordinated. Reed went charging north, then had to rush like mad back south. Also, from their own real-time movements, they were acting more independantly than as a team.
They should have someone stay behind and act as a co-ordinator. They already have wireless connections, all they would need is something like YIM on each computer and use the voice conference feature for hands-free direction and vectoring oto the target storm.
Smudge, from what I saw, they weren't very co-ordinated. Reed went charging north, then had to rush like mad back south. Also, from their own real-time movements, they were acting more independantly than as a team.
They should have someone stay behind and act as a co-ordinator. They already have wireless connections, all they would need is something like YIM on each computer and use the voice conference feature for hands-free direction and vectoring onto the target storm.
Incredible footage, guys. Great job! At about 3:30 it's like it came straigh out of the Wizard of Oz! WOW.
Fantastic video!! What time was the video taken??
Great footage as always!
This footage is the lead story on Good Morning, America.
That tube just looks so otherworldly!
It's a snake, writhing all over the place. And the vertical motion is just incredible. That ranks in your top 10 in my opinion.
Great job.
Hmm you may be right YDNTK. I'm asleep whenever the live feed is up - so made my judgement from the video and Reed's comments. I assumed they'd all be in contact via CB radio - but maybe the distances are too large? There's always phones though..
Still - must not be easy to pinpoint a tornado over such a large area.
Perhaps Alberto can coordinate from his lair, where ever that may be...
Very interesting structure on that one. I wish the DOW was there as well to gather some data.
I agree with Alberto on that we are on the very edge of having a "High Risk" issued for today. TVN should have plenty of storms to choose from to intercept.
Seems like there was a tornado in Douglas MO 2 hrs ago, destroying buildings and damaging others. See spotternetwork.org for the report.
Today could be big!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing, incredible footage!
Awesome video, Nice night video.
And Kudos to the few who suggested the need to get to that town immediately to make sure they are alright.
That was a beautiful tornado! Hope the people in that town were okay.
According to weather.gov, there are several tornado warnings right now. Looks like East TX, Arkansas, and Illinois. Going to be an active day. I live in Fort Worth and the storms passed through here early this morning barely noticed. But they sure have picked up strength as they moved east!
Great shot guys!!! That thing had some awesome motion. I was bit indecisive to leave Kansas but got to that storm just before 9 and shortly after saw a tornado and power flashes while sitting near of Wynona looking back west. I'll post a report after some contrasting magic.
Has anyone else received email confirmation when a chase starts? I have signed up for it and have not received an email when the chase starts. Would have loved to seen this on live stream...
From www.wfaa.com (The DFW ABC station)
Tornado hit Canton around 8:30 a.m.
9:57 AM Fri, May 02, 2008 | Permalink
Walt Zwirko
E-mail
Authorities say a tornado touched down in Canton, causing injuries, overturning cars and ripping down power lines.
Van Zandt County Sheriff dispatchers said the tornado hit around 8:30 a.m.
Canton police reported that three cars and several trailers flipped over.
Authorities said the high winds affected the First Monday Trade Days, a popular open-air market that draws thousands to the county seat each month.
-
Nice vid! Hey, there's some tornado watches and warning right now...
I wonder if Reed and the guys are going to chase today over in Arkansas?
I want to know what happened to that town afterwards in the video above. Did those guys go up there? Is there a recap of this and Reeds chases? I know - lot's of questions. :D
are they chasing in Arkansas today?
6 confirmed dead in Arkansas today and they aren't over yet. Lots of damage in the cities of Damascus, Bee Branch, Greers Ferry, Higdon, and Heber Springs. Only preliminary reports so far.
Can any of you weather trained people explain why there are so many more tornadoes this year than normal? It seems like every time there's thunderstorms now, they become severe and develop tornadoes (at least here in North Texas anyway). Is it because of La Nina or El Nino or something? Just curious.
It's not just Texas, TS. And it's not confined to tornados. I've been tracking the weather i the Great Lakes region since 2002, and each year the storms are becoming both more powerful AND more frequent!
What's causing it I can't say for sure.... But I CAN tell you we're quickly approaching the "B.O.a.K.Y.A.G." stage. :O
Guess I'm a little slow...I had to look up what B.O.a.K.Y.A.G. meant.
That's exactly how I felt last year (Friday, April 13, 2007) while looking out my front door and seeing a tornado heading straight for my house. Fortunately, it weakened before it got to us and just took down our fence and took about half of our shingles off the roof. Yes, we got in our "safe" room (the bathtub). Next house we buy is going to have a real safe room or a storm cellar.
Cool video, wondering just where in Osage county this was captured. Have a farm and many relatives in the county.
I know why no high risk was issued the squall line rushed east and did not allow sun to give instability and put a bit of cinh across all areas.Perhaps not as bad a severe day as thought.
I wouldn't be too surprised to see some storms develop as a result of the outflow boundaries provided by the current storms. Bulk shear and SRH is quite high, instability is not as high as it could have been though. Yes, this severe weather episode will not be as significant as once thought.
storms develop where Alex24 storms have developed almost everywhere in moderate risk area.My concearn is for storms to develop in illinois and portions of iowa into ohio thats where stropngest rotation will be and cold air aloft but strongest instability is further south. Anywhere i expect a stronger tornado to develop near chicago area where 1,000 to 2,000 cape resides backed winds and helicity
This year there is a lot more low level moisture as oppsed to some years especially 2006 This would be one reason there are more tornadic storms here in Texas
DJ - thanks for answering. I had read that la nina can cause more tornadoes. Don't remember where I read it, so can't provide the link. I just know it seems very active this year (and last year too). Good for storm chasers.....not so good for insurance companies and home owners in their path.
AMAZING!!! There are storms with tornado warnings on them to the west of me. If I get in a tornado warning my county is Woodford co KY the town of versailles.
My forcast i issue moderate risk for illinois iowa border into ohio i detect clearing will alow 2,000 cape to parts of 2,500 with strongest cold air aloft there and surface low going there with its rotaion and pretty strong upper winds from south west will develop supercells soon with strong tornados 3 inch hail.Chicago included.My forcast
i forcasting a
i forcastig .f3 too f4 tornado for chicagoo area
i am forecasting an f3 to f4 tornado for chixcago
I did not write the last blog.Anyway illinois may develop supercell stroms soon with clearing and cooling aloft there and pretty strong rotation in the air and backing winds giving sufficiant low level shear for tornados an isolated one may be strong in the ef2 ef5 range
Idiot
Yeah I thought the samething.
Live feed WERG
http://www.wreg.com/Global/Link.asp?L=311920
Who is an idiot?
Does anyone know what the prediction for VA when the storms get there. Will they loose strength by the time they move into the eastern part of the country? Or the prediction for southwest OH in the Cincinnati area?
Got report of violent tornado in arkansas by spotters and chasers.Tornado emergency! Also illinois storms and tornados soon developing!
Alberto, what county was this in? And could you please provide a link as to where you got your information from?
Big music fest in Memphis as well this weekend. My dad is over there. Looking pretty nasty.
Illinois has a shot of some bad weather as well.
I am predicting another Greensburg for Chicago
Based on what Albert?
Albert There is too much cooler air for those kind of tornadoes to form. Yes a couple of tornado could happen But not long lived EF5 tornadoes in that area.
I agree that parts of Illinois have the potential to see some isolated tornadoes within the next several hours, however, I highly doubt that they would be in the EF3-EF5 range. MLCAPE is hovering around 500 J/kg and dewpoints are struggling to get into the 60s. Indeed, shear profiles appear very favorable for rotating storms, there may be a few tornadoes developing there before the day is done, but not as strong as EF4-5.
houses damaged with that tornado in missippi county arkansas.Other storms to the south have classic hooks in them with new tornado reports on them.Sun has come out there.
I did not say ef5 trornado someone is copying me anyway storms developing in illinois.Please don't copy me with my name.
The cell I'm interested in is just west of Memphis, TN heading through the towns of Parkin and Earle. It is developing a slight hook and SRV/BV scans show nice rotation, albeit mainly in the mid/upper levels.
that is not my posting either, the one before the last comment was also not mine but the one before that one was, this one is also me but the one right before isnt
HEY MOE! :))
Large and extremely dangerous tornado indicated by doppler radar near Earle, Arkansas
Who's on first?
The cell I'm interested in is just west of Memphis, TN heading through the towns of Parkin and Earle. It is developing a slight hook and SRV/BV scans show nice rotation.
Can someone explain the difference to me between the SRV and BV scans on GRLevel3?
Will the real alberto please stand up?
I noticed that too Alex - And a couple others, one of which looks to hit a friend to the northeast.
"What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"
Looks like eastern Arkansas is getting hammered.
Rotating supercells are popping up all over the place, where's the TVN team? And where's the DOW/TIV when you need them?
Just to repeat, it is confirmed (I forgot):
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
336 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008
ARC035-037-093-022115-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0088.000000T0000Z-080502T2115Z/
CROSS AR-MISSISSIPPI AR-CRITTENDEN AR-
336 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
CRITTENDEN...SOUTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHEASTERN CROSS
COUNTIES...
AT 336 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS
TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND HEADING TOWARDS TURRELL.
IF YOU ARE IN THE TOWN OF TURRELL OR SURROUNDING AREAS...TAKE COVER
IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
MARION...SUNSET...JERICHO...TURRELL...GILMORE...BIRDSONG...JOINER AND
BASSETT.
[...]
Stay safe guys!
spotters tracking large extremely dangerous tornado wast of memphis significant damage reported.1.5 mile wide wedge tornado school is letting out.significant damage.
Oops, I just realized that was redundant.
Winds in that tornado look to be in the EF3 range. Man oh man.
people killed very strong wide wedge tornado at least ef4 to ef5 by spotters
It's like a drug. It sucks you in and you can't stop looking at it or get enough of it. If only it wasn't so destructive. Be safe. Great video!
spotters tracking tornado west of Memphis. 2 miles wide - F5
JUST BECAUSE IT HAS A CLASSIC SIGNITURE DOSE NOT MEAN THERE IS A EF5. WHO EVER IS POSTING THINGS UNDER PEOPLES NAMES PLEASE STOP. THIS IS NOT FUNNEY.
No offense Raymond, but how do you know it's an F5 (or ef-5). Doesn't the NWS determine that after the fact based on the damage that has been done. Some wide tornadoes can be relatively weak. It may very well be an ef-5 but I don't think you can know that yet. Just saying.
Does anyone have a Live TV Station online Video Feed for Memphis, TN?
Seems the storms are moving there now.
My name hasn't been corrupted lately has it? I hope not. Excellent footage guys! I've seen it on 3 different newscasts today. :)
I do I posted it in another post
http://www.wreg.com/
Thanks Caleb! I found it too! Sorry for not reading back far enough. :)
Memphis TV Station
http://www.wmcstations.com/
Memphis TV Station
http://www.wmcstations.com/
^ List of stations throughout the country, very handy.
Lets hope that this doesn't turn out as catastrophic as it really could. This is crazy to be experiencing activity like this at this time of year, especially so far north (South Dakota yesterday). I wonder what this will me for us up north for this coming summer (hopefully not another Elie).
Ohh, and with all of the stealing of names, I must say that it is rather sad. It's sad that Reed should have to imput an actual log-on-to-post system because some people just can't grow up and act their age!!!
PLEASE - someone TELL me there hasn't been an actual tornado sighted sw of clarksville???
lousiana my get action now tornado watch issued tennesee and arkansas east parts as well strong jet rotating and heading in this reagon will enhance shear under strong low level shear helicity
CRIST - how many warnings is that now today? Anyone keeping count??
http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/full_loop.php
Check out west of Minneapolis/st paul - Crap is rotating on a grand scale! JEEZ - can you imagine if THAT spawned a tornado??
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/severe_weather;_ylt=Aq2gNN1mYpkxtLtgb5lOUi1saMYA
Twisters tear up parts of 4 states; 7 die in Arkansas
By JON GAMBRELL, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago
DAMASCUS, Ark. - Violent storms rolling across the nation's midsection unleashed tornadoes, high winds and hail in four states and killed seven people in Arkansas on Friday, including a teenager who died when a tree fell into her bedroom as she slept.
The storms late Thursday and early Friday ripped off roofs and toppled train cars near Kansas City, Mo.; pelted parts of Oklahoma with hail; and knocked over tents at a popular open-air market in east Texas. Severe thunderstorms were moving into Kentucky and could make for a wet Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
Greg Carbin, a meteorologist for the national Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said as many as 25 tornadoes may have cut through stretches of Oklahoma, Arkansas, eastern Kansas and western Missouri.
Five of those killed were in two north-central Arkansas counties, Conway and Van Buren, that also saw fatalities from a devastating tornado Feb. 5.
"This year it just seems like we're getting pounded," Van Buren County Sheriff Scott Bradley said.
He said a man, a woman and a preschool-age child died when the storm hit their house just south of Bee Branch.
"There wasn't anything left," Bradley said. "It was demolished."
Another child who lived at the home had already left for school, escaping injury.
A father and son died in Conway County when a possible tornado hit their mobile home. A twister demolished a chicken farm in Center Springs, leaving thousands of dead birds on the ground.
Near the Oklahoma line in a working-class neighborhood of Siloam Springs, a 15-year-old girl died in the early morning when apparent straight-line winds toppled a tree into her family's mobile home. She and her 10-year-old brother were sleeping in bunk beds; the boy survived with minor injuries.
"She was on (the top bunk). He was on bottom. When it fell it just crushed her and pinned her on top of him," with a mattress between them, said Chad Tilghman, who lives across the street and helped pull the boy from the storm debris.
The seventh death was reported in Pulaski County, south of Little Rock.
Around the Van Buren County town of Damascus, deputies, firefighters and volunteers were going farm-to-farm to check on everyone. Just north of town the wind knocked the roof off a new church that has yet to hold its first service.
More than a dozen injuries were reported, and about 350 homes were damaged or destroyed in several Arkansas counties.
Nearly 6,000 homes and businesses lost power in Arkansas, and about 40,000 lost power at the peak of the storms in the Kansas City area, where two small tornadoes touched down and several minor injuries were reported.
Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser said 100 homes suffered significant damage in the city alone. Damage was also reported in the suburbs and in Lawrence, to the west. An 18-wheeler was blown over on Interstate 29 in Riverside, near five empty train cars that were toppled.
In northeast Kansas City, dozens of homes had chunks of their roofs missing, and trees were knocked from their roots and lying along the roads and in ditches. Police blocked off roads around the damaged neighborhoods Friday.
Tornadoes appeared to touch down in at least three east Texas towns, uprooting trees, flipping cars and yanking down power lines.
A tornado hit Canton, Texas, as visitors began to show up for a popular open-air market that draws thousands each month. The winds toppled tents and snapped power lines, but the market was soon back in business.
Three people in Canton were taken to hospitals; two had been at the market and had reported chest pains. City Secretary Julie Seymore said that no major injuries were reported and that overall damage was minimal.
At least three tornadoes raked central and northern Oklahoma, including one in Osage County near Tulsa that was an estimated 100 yards wide, but no serious injuries were reported there. A home was destroyed and about a dozen others were damaged in northeastern Oklahoma, and a hotel under construction near Tulsa was destroyed.
In Midwest City, hail the size of golf balls broke the windshields of vehicles, including those at a car dealership. About 10,000 electricity customers in Oklahoma lost power at one point, but most were back on by Friday afternoon.
A day before the Kentucky Derby, some race fans at Churchill Downs sought shelter Friday when the storms arrived in Louisville. The Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of far western Kentucky, and meteorologist John Gordon said two more waves of storms were expected Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
Rain was possible until about 6 p.m. EDT Saturday, just as the race is scheduled to start, but Gordon said he didn't think it would be extreme enough to affect the race.
Churchill Downs spokesman John Asher said the track was monitoring the weather but didn't anticipate heavy rain to interrupt racing.
"This track handles water as well as any track in the country," he said.
There have been more than 700 preliminary reports of tornadoes this year, but the final number of confirmed tornadoes is expected to be lower.
The Weather Service has confirmed 84 tornadoes nationwide for January — compared with a three-year average of 34 — and February was busier than usual, as well, Carbin said. He said it generally takes about two months to confirm actual numbers of tornadoes.
I am tracking a very destructive storm in missippi capable of strong to violent tornados also a strong updraft 4.5 hail possible.Concerned looks like a classic supercell with classic tornado.If anyone lives there please go and chase that thing and get pictures of a wedge
I agree Evan, very sad to see such arguing on here. Reed, and the guys, I do agree with the suggestion that instead of having log in for just the forum, you should have to log in for the blogs too.
I'm sure it's hard to get set up, but its terrible to see what's been going on with the comments especially in these last few days...
Hope everyone is alright out there!
That tornado in missippi is huge the weather service sas" a large extremely dangerous tornado has been comfirmed or spotted.Why is reed and the chasers not chasing today!?
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
616 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008
AT 616 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CAMBRIDGE...OR 12 MILES EAST OF OXFORD...MOVING EAST AT 41 MPH.
My guess Reed knew today was going to be huge and is out chasing. Maybe equipment problems or wanted to concentrate only on chasing.
Reed should have at least said he wasn't turning on the tracker.Also at least 3 classic supercells capable of strong to violent tornados from missippi to arkansas and now louisiana new storms where 3,000 cape to 3,200 resides strong shear!
Reed called and reported a low contrast wedge tornado earlier this afternoon in Arkansas haven't heard from him in over three hours...he is definately out chasing today however we are not (stream 1)
large wedge tornado on the ground in missisippi
what county mike please tell me, yeh and environment is loaded for tornados
Here's a link to some storm damage photos in Damascus area (Faulkner County, Arkansas) where three people were killed today.
Seven now confirmed dead in the state, one missing.
http://thecabin.net/tornado
yeh i see now tracking 3 large tornados with 3 classic supercells,Strong to violent tornados!
Hey, any chance of tornadoes in S. Ontario over the weekend? I keep hearing about the threat of severe thunderstorms moving through.
Jamie to answer your question the main threat for severe thunderstorms was tonight. There is a small line moving in my area right now. But nothing tornadic I dont think. They would have to strenghten in a hurry to put down tornadoes in Southern Ontario. Besides its been cloudy here all day and cold so the odds are not great to see any thunderstorms period. But saying that I havent looked at a model run yet today which im going to do right now.
Cool, thanks Matt!
Hi guys, I hope you have enjoyed our video! It was quite impressive and it is about time that a system finally produce a nice tornado in the southern plains this year. This tornado was very impressive even at night. I have posted some stills that I took with my Nikon on the forum. I am selling pictures to help pay for the next storm chase, please feel free to email me if you want a copy! matt_vanevery2000@yahoo.com
Ya the chances are slim to no for thunderstorms. There calling for thunder showers tomorrow afternoon but nothing severe. Although the SPC has put us in a 5% chance for severe thunderstorms. Ill be tracking this from work tomorrow. No camera unfortunalty as my old man has taking it away and hidden it from me. Going to try and get my uncle to hook me up with a camera.
Reed just called. They are in northern Mississippi and have been in the midst of tornadoes and a lot of damage. They were assisting with damage and rescue. His data card does not work, so no tracker or streaming all day. More tornadoes expected tonight - they are staying in a small town-I think he said Oxford and will head back tomorrow with some amazing footage. He will try to update the blog tonight.
That area is getting absolutely pounded tonight. Having such storms occur in the dark is not something anyone wants to see. Not to mention a bunch of the remaining tornadoes in MS will likely be rain-wrapped. I hope that Reed and anyone with him stay safe. I'm really glad to hear that they are out there helping out anyone in need. I'm really interested to see what sort of footage he has gathered from today.
New updatte large tornado spotted again in sunflower county.I hope reed shows a wedge tornado he captured!
Perhaps strong tornado west of oxford where reed is hope he knows its the cell that dropped several killer lare tornados
Nice to hear he got involved with D/C & Rescue.
What kind of equipment do you guys usually have aboard on your chases for such events?
I swear this has been 24 hours of pure CHAOS! 25 confirmed tonados (although I don't know if that includes Iowa & S. Dakota), God knows how many unconfirmed/warnings, 7 dead in Arkansas..
Thank God it didn't turn out like April '74, though. This COULD'VE been a hell of a lot worse!
i was watching KFOR LIVE on my monitor hee last night and the footage was amazing great shots reed u did good also for me loooks like a severe day for me this weekend on sat may 3rd
wish me luck also it was 10 years ago that day that OKC got whacked
happy chasing alll
Kim Twister
most dedicated diehard storm chaser
chase to live live to chase
Great vid guys
i actually think its been nine years since okc may 3rd event becuz 09 will be 10th anniversy