El Reno: Lessons From the Most Dangerous Tornado in Storm Observing History

Summary

On May 31, 2013, a massive tornado struck El Reno, Oklahoma, with unprecedented diameter and wind speeds. Its erratic movement and high precipitation made observation treacherous, leading to the tragic loss of storm chasers and observers. The event underscores tornado unpredictability, the danger of close approaches, and the risk of satellite tornadoes. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining distance, being vigilant, and prioritizing safety over documentation.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ The El Reno tornado of May 31st, 2013 was a massive and powerful event, with a diameter of up to 2.6 miles and wind speeds nearing 300 mph, making it one of the most intense tornadoes in history.
• ⚠️ The tornado exhibited unpredictable behavior, frequently changing speed and direction, which made safe observation extremely difficult, even for experienced storm chasers.
• 👥 Tragically, the tornado claimed the lives of eight people, including well-known storm chasers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young.
• 🌩️ The tornado formed under a potent combination of atmospheric conditions, including extreme instability, strong vertical wind shear, and a powerful low-pressure system.
• 🌀 The tornado had a high precipitation character, making it difficult to see, and was accompanied by multiple satellite tornadoes and an anticyclonic tornado, increasing the danger for those nearby.
• 🚗 Several storm chasers, including a Weather Channel crew and the Twistex team, were caught in the tornado’s path, with some surviving close encounters, while others did not.
• 🌧️ The tornado was difficult to track visually due to rain and debris, and its unpredictable movement made it challenging for chasers to avoid.
• 🌪️ The El Reno tornado expanded rapidly, doubling in width in just a few minutes, making it even more dangerous for those trying to escape its path.
• 🚷 The event highlighted the dangers of storm chasing, particularly in volatile weather conditions, and emphasized the need for greater caution and distance from tornadoes.
• 🔄 The El Reno tornado serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of tornadoes and the importance of respecting their power and potential for rapid, life-threatening changes.

Q & A

What made the El Reno tornado on May 31st, 2013 particularly dangerous?

The El Reno tornado was exceptionally large, reaching up to 2.6 miles in diameter, and had unpredictable speed and directional changes. Its winds reached nearly 300 mph, making it one of the most powerful tornadoes in history. Additionally, its high precipitation and looping movement made it difficult for storm chasers to observe safely.

What were some challenges storm chasers faced during the El Reno tornado?

Storm chasers faced challenges such as the tornado’s unpredictable changes in direction and speed, limited visibility due to the high precipitation in the storm, and sudden expansion of the tornado’s windfield, which made close observation dangerous and often forced them to flee.

How did the El Reno tornado cause the deaths of notable storm chasers?

The tornado’s rapid expansion and unpredictable movements contributed to the deaths of renowned storm chasers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young. They were overtaken by a sub-vortex within the larger tornado, which tumbled their vehicle several times, leading to their tragic deaths.

Outlines

00:00

🌪️ The Deadly El Reno Tornado of May 31, 2013

On May 31, 2013, a massive tornado formed near El Reno, Oklahoma, reaching an unprecedented 2.6 miles in diameter and producing winds near 300 mph. This tornado was notorious for its unpredictable changes in speed and direction, making it extremely dangerous for storm chasers. Among the eight fatalities were well-known storm chasers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young. This tragedy highlighted the critical need to document the lessons learned to prevent future loss of life in the storm chasing community.

05:03

⛈️ Atmospheric Conditions Leading to the El Reno Tornado

On May 31st, severe weather was predicted over Central Oklahoma due to a potent combination of atmospheric ingredients, similar to those that caused a devastating EF5 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, just days earlier. A slow-moving upper tropospheric trough, intense low-level flow, and strong mid-tropospheric winds created extreme instability in the region. This instability was measured using weather balloon data, revealing significant convective available potential energy (CAPE). The cap, a warm dry air layer, delayed thunderstorm development until peak heating, setting the stage for explosive storm formation.

10:04

🌩️ The Formation and Rapid Expansion of the El Reno Tornado

As the atmosphere became primed for severe storms, thunderstorms began forming around 4:30 PM, about 50 miles west of Oklahoma City. A storm near El Reno quickly developed mid-level rotation, leading to the formation of a large, rapidly rotating wall cloud. By 6:00 PM, the El Reno tornado had begun, initially showing a strong multiple vortex structure. Storm chasers in the area, including the Tempest Tour Group, narrowly escaped as the tornado expanded rapidly, increasing in forward speed and width, making it far more dangerous than initially perceived.

15:08

🚨 Close Calls and Fatal Consequences During the Tornado

The El Reno tornado's rapid expansion and unpredictable movement caught many storm chasers off guard. As it grew in size and speed, it became increasingly difficult to see due to rain and debris. Several storm chasers, including Brandon Sullivan and Brett Wright, were almost overtaken by the tornado's outer edge but managed to escape. Others, like the Twistex team led by Tim Samaras, were not as fortunate. Their vehicle was struck by a powerful sub-vortex, resulting in their tragic deaths. The tornado's complex structure and erratic behavior made it a formidable and deadly force.

20:08

⚠️ Lessons from the El Reno Tornado Tragedy

The El Reno tornado taught several crucial lessons for storm chasers. Tornadoes, especially large ones, can change direction and speed unexpectedly, making them highly dangerous. The tornado's rapid expansion and hidden wind fields caught many chasers by surprise, leading to fatal consequences. The event also highlighted the dangers of satellite tornadoes and anticyclonic tornadoes, which can form near the main tornado. The tragic deaths of the Twistex team and others underscore the need for storm chasers to maintain a greater distance from tornadoes and remain vigilant about the rapidly changing conditions during severe weather events.

25:27

🌪️ The Unpredictable Nature of Tornadoes

The El Reno tornado was a reminder of the unpredictable and deadly nature of tornadoes. Large tornadoes can be accompanied by satellite and anticyclonic tornadoes, further complicating efforts to observe them safely. The event also demonstrated the limitations of radar in accurately tracking tornadoes, as the El Reno tornado moved rapidly, often faster than radar updates could track. Storm chasers are advised to place more distance between themselves and tornadoes, especially when atmospheric conditions are particularly volatile, to avoid tragic outcomes like those seen on May 31, 2013.

Keywords

💡El Reno Tornado

The El Reno Tornado was an exceptionally large and powerful tornado that occurred on May 31, 2013, near El Reno, Oklahoma. It is notable for its massive size, reaching up to 2.6 miles in diameter, and its unpredictability, with winds near 300 mph. The tornado exhibited unusual behavior, including sudden changes in speed and direction, making it extremely dangerous. It tragically resulted in the deaths of several well-known storm chasers.

💡Multiple Vortex Structure

A multiple vortex structure refers to the presence of several smaller, spinning vortices within a larger tornado. The El Reno Tornado displayed this feature, making it more destructive and difficult to predict. These sub-vortices can cause extreme damage in localized areas, which is why some structures within a tornado's path are completely destroyed while others nearby remain intact.

💡High Precipitation Supercell

A high precipitation (HP) supercell is a type of thunderstorm characterized by heavy rainfall and limited visibility of the tornado it produces. The El Reno Tornado was associated with an HP supercell, which made it difficult for storm chasers to see and track the tornado, increasing the danger and contributing to the fatalities among observers.

💡Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE)

CAPE is a measure of the instability in the atmosphere, indicating the potential energy available for storm development. High CAPE values, like the 6,000 joules per kilogram mentioned in the script, suggest a strong likelihood of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. In the case of the El Reno Tornado, extreme CAPE levels contributed to the rapid and intense development of the storm.

💡Vertical Wind Shear

Vertical wind shear refers to the change in wind speed and direction with height in the atmosphere. It is a critical factor in the development of rotating thunderstorms and tornadoes. The El Reno Tornado was influenced by strong vertical wind shear, which helped create the conditions necessary for the tornado's formation and contributed to its rotation and intensity.

💡Tornado Warning

A tornado warning is an alert issued by the National Weather Service when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. During the El Reno event, a tornado warning was issued when radar detected a developing tornado near El Reno. However, due to the storm's rapid changes in behavior and limited visibility, the warning may not have provided sufficient time for people to seek safety.

💡Storm Chasers

Storm chasers are individuals who actively pursue severe weather events like tornadoes to observe, record, and study them. The script highlights the dangers faced by storm chasers during the El Reno Tornado, where several experienced chasers, including Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young, tragically lost their lives. The event serves as a reminder of the risks involved in storm chasing.

💡Satellite Tornadoes

Satellite tornadoes are smaller tornadoes that orbit around a larger, primary tornado. The El Reno Tornado produced multiple satellite tornadoes, which added to the complexity and danger of the storm. These smaller tornadoes can form quickly and in unexpected locations, making them particularly hazardous for those trying to observe or escape the main tornado.

💡Anticyclonic Tornado

An anticyclonic tornado is a rare type of tornado that spins in the opposite direction (clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere) to the more common cyclonic tornadoes. The El Reno Tornado event included the development of an anticyclonic tornado southeast of the main storm. Although smaller in size, anticyclonic tornadoes can still be very powerful and dangerous.

💡Capping Inversion

A capping inversion is a layer of warm air aloft that suppresses thunderstorm development until it is broken by surface heating or other atmospheric processes. The script describes how a capping inversion initially prevented storm formation on May 31, 2013, but when it eventually broke, it led to the explosive development of the severe thunderstorms that produced the El Reno Tornado.

Highlights

An exceptionally large and powerful tornado formed near El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31, 2013, reaching a record width of 2.6 miles and producing winds near 300 mph.

The tornado exhibited unusual behavior, frequently changing both speed and direction, making it nearly impossible to predict and observe safely.

Storm chasers, including well-known figures like Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young, were among the eight victims of the tornado, highlighting the severe dangers of chasing.

The tornado was shrouded in rain and exhibited multiple vortices, making it difficult for storm spotters and chasers to see and assess the danger, leading to tragic outcomes.

The storm’s rapid changes in speed and direction, along with its immense size, made close-range observation incredibly dangerous.

Radar data and visual observation confirmed that the tornado reached a maximum width of 2.6 miles, the widest ever recorded.

Despite its massive size, the tornado's outer wind field was much larger than its visible condensation funnel, which was only about a third of its total width.

The tornado's rapid expansion and acceleration caught many off guard, doubling its width and speed within minutes.

The tornado's unpredictable movement, including a 360-degree turn, highlighted the challenges of forecasting and evading such storms.

The tornado was accompanied by satellite tornadoes and an anticyclonic tornado, further complicating the situation for those in its path.

The tornado's high precipitation character made it particularly dangerous, as it was difficult to visually track and estimate its proximity.

Lessons learned from this event emphasize the importance of maintaining greater distance from tornadoes, especially under volatile weather conditions.

The event underscored that even experienced storm chasers are vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of large, powerful tornadoes.

Increased storm chasing activity has led to more close encounters, raising the risk of deadly interactions with tornado sub-vortices.

The tornado tragically demonstrated that no data, footage, or report is worth risking one’s life, reinforcing the need for safety in storm observation.

Transcripts

on May 31st 2013 an exceptionally large

and powerful tornado formed near eleno

Oklahoma up to 2.6 mil in diameter This

Tornado produced Winds near 300 mph

ranking with some of the most intense

tornadoes in

history

This Tornado exhibited an unusual pinent

for changing both speed and direction

forward speeds ranged from nearly

stationary to over 50 mph while the

direction of movement spanned over

360° looping over Interstate 40 this

made safe observing at close range

almost

impossible the high precipitation

character of the parent thunderstorm

made viewing very difficult for storm

spotters and Chasers all of these

factors combined to produce an

incredibly dangerous situation in which

many storm observers were forced to flee

for their lives unfortunately not

everyone Made It

Out Among the eight victims this storm

claimed were well-known stormchasers Tim

samis Paul samis and Carl Young as well

as at least one other storm observ

in view of this tragedy we deem it

important to document the lessons that

this storm has pressed upon the chasing

and spotting Community we hope that this

documentation will reduce the risk of

another such

tragedy Friday May 31st severe weather

has been in the forecast for days

but where and would a tornado threat

exist it is early morning forecasters

are convinced that a potent combination

of atmospheric ingredients will set up

over Central

Oklahoma tornadoes look likely in an

area that has already seen more than its

fair share of wicked

weather on May 20th a rare EF5 tornado

ravaged Moore Oklahoma a suburb of

Oklahoma City

This Tornado took the lives of over 20

people and left hundreds

injured similar to the 20th a large

slow-moving upper tropospheric trough is

positioned over the

plains the southern periphery of this

trough features an intense mid to uper

tropospheric jet which has initiated

strong southerly low-level flow very

rich moisture is moving toward the plan

ples in the middle troposphere strong

Westerly winds are transporting a cool

dry layer of air over the warm moist

layer to the

east the overlap of these two air masses

is creating a zone of conditionally

unstable air over the Southern Plains

and the Upper

Midwest conceptually conditional

instability is similar to the hot air

balloon hot air is less dense than cold

air at the same pressure level so the

balloon Rises this force is known as

buoyancy gravity acts in the opposite

direction if buoyancy is greater than

gravity an upward force is

created instability can be measured from

weather balloon data these balloons rise

through the troposphere creating a

vertical profile of temperature humidity

and

winds during the early even evening a

weather balloon is launched from Norman

Oklahoma revealing a vertical profile of

the troposphere the environmental

temperature with height is in red the

parcel temperature analogous to the hot

air balloon is the dotted line notice

that the parcel temperature is much

greater than the environmental

temperature this means that air

originating from the ground will rise

with great force once the environmental

temperature is cool enough the total

difference in the two temperature traces

is known as the convective available

potential energy or Cape the area

between the two temperature traces

determines the value of Cape all of this

energy is contained by a warm dry layer

of air known as the cap this layer of

air originates in the desert Southwest

it prevents thunderstorm development

through most of the day generally until

Peak heating when it breaks it breaks

explosively similar to the effect of

removing a lid from a Boiling Pot of

water the combination of Rich GF

moisture with cool dry air above has led

to the development of extreme

instability Cape values reach as high as

6,000 Jew per kilogram in Southwest

Oklahoma a surface low pressure has

formed over Southwestern Oklahoma

backing the flow in central Oklahoma

from South to

Southeast in addition to strengthening

convergence in Southwestern Oklahoma

that may lead to the initiation of

thunderstorms this is also increasing

the Turning with height in the

troposphere leading to Stronger vertical

wind

shear in the middle troposphere winds

are from the west and southwest

generally above 40 knots over the

Southern

Plains combined with the backed surface

flow this has led to the development of

deep layer Shear more than 40 knots

given the extreme instability conditions

have become more than sufficient for

rotating thunderstorms to illustrate

we turn to the Paddle

Wheel if water at the top of a Paddle

Wheel is Flowing quickly and water at

the bottom is Flowing slowly the Paddle

Wheel will tend to

rotate this effect also occurs in the

atmosphere since air is a fluid here is

an image from a developing thunderstorm

on a day when tornadoes occurred

nearby the winds at the top of this

towering cumulus are much stronger than

at the bottom this causes the developing

storm to lean down sheer unseen by the

eye are numerous horizontal

circulations the formation of supercell

thunderstorms from which tornadoes

develop begins with these horizontal

circulations created by differences in

wind speed and direction with height

when a developing thunderstorm updraft

encounters a circulation the circulation

is tilted upward by the updraft into the

the shape of a

horseshoe this creates circulations

spinning opposite directions the

northern circulation spins clockwise and

the southern spins

counterclockwise the wind pattern often

favors strengthening of the Southern

circulation while the northern

circulation tends to dissipate the

southern updraft continues to strengthen

as an adjacent downdraft forms created

in part by precip

ation this precipitation is wrapped

around the updraft creating the

characteristic hook Echo a supercell is

Born the stage is set for intense

supercells a stationary boundary

generated by previous convection is

positioned over Interstate 40 in central

Oklahoma it is adding fuel to the

proverbial fire it is simultaneously

enhancing the low-l shear while creating

a focus Focus for convective initiation

at its intersection with the dry

line visible satellite imagery shows

partly cloudy skies in central Oklahoma

warming the air near the stationary

boundary providing power for explosive

updrafts it is 400 p.m. the atmosphere

is primed for the development of intense

thunderstorms radar shows a number of

attempts at thunderstorm initiation west

of Oklahoma City but as of yet nothing

has developed

however on the ground cumulus are seen

towering High just west of Oklahoma City

indicating that thunderstorms will

initiate

soon stormchasers are beginning to

converge in the small town of eleno as

the location of key boundaries strongly

hints that it will be Ground

Zero around 4:30 the capping inversion

the layer of B A that often suppresses

storm development in the plains breaks

in a Northeast to Southwest line line

about 50 Mi west of Oklahoma

City several storms rapidly form

reaching Heights well above 50,000 ft

still considerable uncertainty remains

concerning which storm or storms will

dominate this storm approximately 15 Mi

west southwest of Calumet quickly

develops mid-level

rotation radial velocity shows a weak

but classic rotational signature about

10 miles west of

eleno at the ground storm observers note

a rapidly rotating wall cloud just south

of the interstate the National Weather

Service issues a tornado warning

unconfirmed reports of a large tornado

are hitting the TV

Airways just as this storm is

approaching maturity another storm

develops to its South merges and begins

to rotate

shortly after 6: p.m. a vigorous

circulation develops rapidly 10 miles

Southwest of elino from the ground this

circulation is seen as another large

rapidly rotating wall cloud within 2

minutes of its development a ground

circulation develops the alino tornado

has

begun the tornado immediately shows

strong multiple vortex structure

The Tempest tour Group is located

southeast of the tornado a traditionally

safe spot if a tornado is moving

Northeast the tornado does not initially

appear to deviate from the expected

motion to the east it also doesn't

appear very close an illusion created by

the low hanging Cloud base sub vortices

appear as well but instead of moving

left to right they appear to move closer

to the photographer the tour leader

begins to sense danger and signals his

tour members to come back to the vehicle

the tornado does not appear very large

but the entire circulation is almost a

half mile across the tourists

frantically make their way back to the

vehicle as the tornado rapidly closes on

their location the two are Center their

vehicle and are barely able to escape

the widening tornado can be seen from a

rear view

camera it is about 6:06 p.m. The Tempest

tour group is making their escape just

south of the tornado meanwhile Brandon

Sullivan and Brett Wright are stopped

along child's Road just south of Reno

Street filming the developing tornado to

their

West the tornado appears to be a half

mile away away which should leave enough

time for a safe Escape what they don't

realize is that the tornado has expanded

to 3/4 of a mile wide and the forward

speed has increased to 35 mph the edge

of the ttic Windfield is close and

closing realizing the danger Sullivan

and Wright begin to pack up their gear I

got it get in the car then get in the

car Sullivan and Wright head south they

realize the tornado is much closer and

they make a frantic Escape they are

overtaken by the outer edge of the

tornado they survive without

injury meanwhile Dave dmco and Heidi

Ferrar are observing the tornado a few

miles to the

north dmco and Ferrar are in the notch

the space in between the large Hail to

the North and the tornado to the South

the storm is high precipitation in

character and so it is difficult to see

the tornado especially from the north

not knowing the exact size and movement

of the tornado they begin to worry about

where to go they agree to bail

West while dimco and Ferrar are

observing the widening Tornado from the

north Skip talit and Jen Brindley are

observing the approaching Tornado from

the

East the time is 6:13 p.m. from their

location the tornado is difficult to see

because of the rain talbet notices very

fast moving rain Cur

very close and decides it's time to bail

East from talit and brinley's location

the condensation funnel is faintly

visible and occupies the area seen here

in blue the visible funnel is

approximately. 3 Mi wide the tornado

width based on mobile radar data is

about 1.6 mil in diameter noted by the

red circle thus the area occupied by the

full tornadic Windfield is is more than

10 times larger than its condensation

funnel in this modified version of

Talbot's video you can see how large the

tornado Windfield is compared to the

condensation

funnel now realizing the imminent threat

talbet and brenley Retreat East on 15th

Street the tornado keeping Pace at a

blistering 45

mph

while they are fleeing Ray bohack and

his crew are following the tornado on

Reno just a few miles Northwest of

talbat in

Brinley they watch as the large tornado

intensifies in front of them it is

615 the tornado was difficult to see and

shrouded by rain and debris suddenly two

more tornadoes appear

satellites these tornadoes are 1/4 to 1/

half mile from from the edge of the main

tornado these tornadoes spin about the

main funnel in a counterclockwise

orbit it is 618 a Weather Channel crew

led by Mike Bettis is racing South down

Highway 81 meanwhile Richard Henderson

is trying to beat the tornado to the

east his progress delayed by a chaser

traffic

jam near the intersection of 15th Street

with Highway 81 the tornado appears as a

wallet

condensation Mikey Gribble shoots video

to the West along 15th Street as The

Weather Channel crew is frantically

attempting to get past the tornado a

mile to his West they do not make

it while the weather channel is

attempting to outrace the tornado

Richard Henderson continues East on Reno

hoping to beat the tornado to the east

hindered by the blinding rain and

powerful winds Henderson stops

with brutal force the tornado overtakes

him he does not

survive the lead car of The Weather

Channel crew is hit by a sub Vortex

within the larger tornado and their

vehicle is rolled almost 200 yards the

car is badly damaged and all airbags are

deployed amazingly all of the team's

crew members have

survived as The Weather Channel crew is

getting hit Dan Robinson is heading East

on Road just west of Highway 81 he

briefly considers heading south but

realizes there isn't enough time the

tornado is moving fast much faster than

expected Robinson decides to continue

heading East on

ruter unknown to Robinson at the time a

white Chevy Cobalt is following him in

it are Tim samaris Paul samaris and Carl

Young though the main condensation

funnel is still a mile away Robinson is

overtaken by the invisible edge of the

tornado Robinson's four-cylinder vehicle

struggles to go Eastward against strong

East and northeasterly winds the wind

slows down Robinson's attempt to escape

the approaching

tornado less than a half mile behind

Robinson a powerful sub Vortex is

swinging Northwest toward Rutter in the

direct path the twistex crew is riding

out the storm alongside the river Ro

near a creek The Vortex briefly stalls

over their Chevy Cobalt it tumbles over

five times they do not

survive the tornado continues to head

north the forward speed of the tornado

slows down to less than 10 mph the

tornado becomes increasingly wrapped in

Rain meanwhile at 6:41 skip talot spots

another tornado approximately 5 miles to

the southeast of the main tornado

This Tornado though is spinning

clockwise or

anticyclonically though only a couple

yards in diameter This Tornado is

powerful with Peak winds approaching 150

mph finally at 6:43 p.m. the tornado

dissipates near the intersection of I40

and banner

road several lessons have reemerged from

this tragic event it is our hope that

these will lower the probability of

another chasing or spotting

tragedy first tornado motion is always

unpredictable even for big tornadoes

they don't move in straight lines or at

constant speed and it's often difficult

to tell where a tornado is moving the

eleno tornado changed directions over

360° thus if you were close there was no

safe spot regardless of what direction

the tornado had been moving Additionally

the range of speeds in the alen tornado

was enormous from nearly stationary to

over 55

mph near Highway 81 the tornado doubled

its speed from 25 to 50 mph in 5 minutes

if you can't see the tornado as was the

case with Dan Robinson and the twistex

chase team north of the tornado you may

be in Mortal danger sudden turns can and

do

happen tornadoes can expand rapidly from

605 to 610 when Brandon Sullivan and

Brett Wright stopped to shoot video

along child's Road the width of the

tornado doubled from 6 mil to 1.2 mil

wide making a close approach to a

tornado can be very dangerous and

potentially deadly a tornado is often

larger than its condensation funnel in

some cases much larger skip Talbot's

view of the tornado at 613 demonstrates

this quite well the tornado appeared to

be 1/3 of a mile wide but the tornadic

Windfield was well over a mile wide in

the case of the twist X group it is

quite likely that they thought they had

more time to escape the tornado than

they actually had since the outer edges

of the tornado were not visible however

the easterly winds inside the

uncondensed tnic circulation were

powerful enough to hinder their escape

on Rutter resulting in

tragedy when big tornadoes occur they

are often accompanied by other tornadoes

these additional tornadoes present a big

problem for those trying to observe

storm safely the first type is the

satellite tornado at 6:15 p.m. multiple

satellite tornadoes were observed on the

west and south side of the alino tornado

these tornadoes generally occur within a

mile of the main tornado in any

direction close observers are

particularly vulnerable to this type of

tornado the second type is the

anticyclonic tornado this type of

tornado spins in the opposite direction

of the main tornado while the REO

tornado was wrapped in rain near I40 a

powerful anticyclonic tornado with winds

up to 150 mph developed to the southeast

of the main tornado typically these

tornadoes form to the right of the hook

Eko a fair distance away from the main

cyclonic

tornado the final type of danger comes

from new tornadoes forming in new

circulations within the parent

thunderstorm they generally form

Downstream of the existing

tornado the notch of a high

precipitation super cell is extremely

dangerous it is why core punching

approaching the Tornado from the rain

and hail Is So

perilous this is the area of the storm

immediately to the left of the tornado

and just to the right of the large hail

those in the notch are in danger of the

sharp left turns that tornadoes often

make when they are dissipating if the

tornado can be seen successful escapes

can be made however heavy rain May hide

the tornado in that case radar updates

may be the only way of knowing where the

tornado is located but in the case of

the ELO storm the tornado moved 2 miles

north in less than 5 minutes less than

the interval of a wsr88d volume scan

Additionally the radar cannot pinpoint

the exact location of the tornado with

certainty so you should not depend on

radar to know where the tornado is and

even if the position of a tornado is

known strong INF winds may hinder a

quick escape this almost certainly was

the case for the twistex team on Rudder

Road as mentioned previously new

tornadoes are always a danger in the

Notch and of course there's the Lesser

thread of very large glass-breaking hail

in the core of the storm in the path of

an approaching tornado a Quick Escape

may not be possible a lack of good road

options poor road conditions or even TR

traffic may hinder a safe escape and in

the case of the eleno tornado numerous

traffic jams were reported it appears

that these traffic jams may have

resulted in the deaths of at least three

people in three different cars based on

these lessons we suggest that storm

spotters and Chasers Place more distance

between themselves in the tornado

especially on days when parameters are

particularly volatile when the

instability and sheer combination is

high the storm Evolution may occur more

quickly decreasing the margin for error

moreover given the Rarity of the

ingredients that produced the alino

tornado storm Behavior May differ

greatly from more normal tornado days

for example on June 8th 1995 a very

large tornado accelerated to nearly 60

MPH near Allison Texas before slowing

down to nearly stationary you may have

seen videos of people who escaped death

and serious injury when their vehicles

were hit by the eleno tornado

but it's critical to remember that in

most of these cases the vehicles were

not impacted by the strongest winds in

the tornado it is possible that this has

resulted in a false sense of security

within the storm observing Community the

most powerful winds in a tornado are

located in sub vortices which are

smaller tornadoes within the larger

circulation these are the vortices

responsible for leveling one house but

leaving a house next door unscathed

given the small area they occupy the

probability of being hit is actually

rather low however as the number of

Close Encounters increase the odds

increase that more Chasers will

encounter these deadly winds this is

especially true now given the growing

trend of extreme

chasing remember that no footage report

or data is worth your life of the eight

deaths in the tornado at least four were

Chasers there will always be more storms

e

for