Historic tornado videos missing from youtube/the internet?

[atrainguy]

This is a short snippet of what might be the TLC documentary you are remembering (the one with the 1999 backyard video). I have the whole thing recorded off TV on DVD somewhere, and the documentary also has the "Inside an F5" footage from earlier in this thread. This particular part on Youtube doesn't have either video, but it does have some other neat shots of the Bridge Creek tornado, including its satellite. Dunno if they're considered rare or not, but I thought it might be worth sharing.

I know this is way late, but FWIW the full documentary magically popped up in my recommended on Youtube. Here it is for any one interested.

 

[eric11]

Though it's not a short period from the 30th Anniversary of the 4/26/1991 Great Plains outbreak, hope I haven't missed the part yet.
The 30th Anniversary Edit of Billings/Red Rock Tornado on April 26, 1991 in 4K was published on youtube not long before, including some shots and damage I haven't seen elsewhere before.

Some screenshot, the huge inflow cloud was definitely stunning.


Another video published by Warren Faidley shows the tornado crossing a road right in front of him

Also, a rare video of the Winfield KS F4 during this outbreak

The author who published the Winfield one also published another tornado video in Abbyville KS on 3/26/1991, another graceful tornado in early spring of Great Plains with classic old school style.

 

[eric11]

Tri-State cyclic supercell from Gruver TX to Hugton KS on 5/5/1993, this storm produced at least 8 tornadoes including this long-lived long tracker which lasted more than an hour in rural OK Panhandle near Hooker OK.

 

[eric11]

A rare documentary for the 1992 Chandler MN F5, it contained several home video clips that I haven't seen elsewhere before

 

[buckeye05]

Has anyone heard about a long-lost tornado video that shows a tiny rope tornado scouring pavement from a road? I swear I’ve heard people, mostly “old school” chasers make references to it, and how the video seems to have been lost. Does anyone know anything about this video, and better yet, has anyone actually seen it? It sounds remarkable, and it’d be great if someone could dig it up and digitalize it.

 

[buckeye05]

Another rumor I’ve heard is that a second video of the 1953 Worcester, MA tornado exists (or at least did at one point) besides the video taken from inside the barn being destroyed near the end of the path. It apparently showed the condensation funnel itself. I remember someone commenting on YouTube that they tried to tell Tom Grazulis of its existence, but apparently he became extremely dismissive and nothing ever came of it. Shame if that’s true.

 

[AngelAndHisWx]

Has anyone heard about a long-lost tornado video that shows a tiny rope tornado scouring pavement from a road? I swear I’ve heard people, mostly “old school” chasers make references to it, and how the video seems to have been lost. Does anyone know anything about this video, and better yet, has anyone actually seen it? It sounds remarkable, and it’d be great if someone could dig it up and digitalize it.

I might be mistaken, but if memory serves right it was video of the Watonga tornado from October 4 1998. Let me check my copies of Stormtrack, I think that’s where I remember reading about it.

 

[AngelAndHisWx]

Has anyone heard about a long-lost tornado video that shows a tiny rope tornado scouring pavement from a road? I swear I’ve heard people, mostly “old school” chasers make references to it, and how the video seems to have been lost. Does anyone know anything about this video, and better yet, has anyone actually seen it? It sounds remarkable, and it’d be great if someone could dig it up and digitalize it.

I tried contacting the author of this article ages ago but never got a response.

 

[pohnpei]

Rare footage of Hesston

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

Has anyone heard about a long-lost tornado video that shows a tiny rope tornado scouring pavement from a road? I swear I’ve heard people, mostly “old school” chasers make references to it, and how the video seems to have been lost. Does anyone know anything about this video, and better yet, has anyone actually seen it? It sounds remarkable, and it’d be great if someone could dig it up and digitalize it.

It's Watonga OK,

STMAY99

Alan Switzer apparently took the video of it, I think it used to be on his old website but it's since gone down.

 

[TH2002]

Alan's site is still up, but unfortunately the video isn't there and even the Internet Archive's earliest snapshot of his Watonga chase summary (from 2007) already shows a "Page not found" error.

If the video was on that page, that means it's been gone for over a DECADE now and unfortunately probably no hope of ever seeing it again unless someone gets in touch with Alan Switzer himself.

Edit: I emailed Alan and he got back to me! He said he'll see if he can dig it up and maybe post it to YouTube. He also did mention that his video might not show the scouring clearly, but there was a news station filming behind him (KFOR maybe?) that did zoom in and their video clearly showed it scouring the pavement. Unfortunately we all know how overprotective many news stations are with their videos though... *cough cough* KTWX

 

[TH2002]

Is this the video? Alan sent this to me, it's not his video but you can see the pavement getting scoured at the 26 second mark.

 

[buckeye05]

Is this the video? Alan sent this to me, it's not his video but you can see the pavement getting scoured at the 26 second mark.

That's gotta be it! First time seeing this but it perfectly fits the description of the video I've heard described.

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

That's gotta be it! First time seeing this but it perfectly fits the description of the video I've heard described.

Wow had no clue footage of this video was still available! I've always wanted to see it, now I have. Also, this is the first time I've seen pavement scouring occur on tape. Incredible.

 

[buckeye05]

This is what appears to be some recently discovered home video of the 1976 Cabot, AR F3.

 

[Casuarina Head]

Also, a rare video of the Winfield KS F4 during this outbreak

The horizontal and vertical motion is extremely high-end.

 

[CheeselandSkies]

Tri-State cyclic supercell from Gruver TX to Hugton KS on 5/5/1993, this storm produced at least 8 tornadoes including this long-lived long tracker which lasted more than an hour in rural OK Panhandle near Hooker OK.

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This day was one of the handful of chases described in detail by Warren Faidley in his book Storm Chaser: In Pursuit of Untamed Skies which I've had since it came out in 1996 (when I was 10). Nice to see some other photos as well as video from it.

 

[MNTornadoGuy]

New footage from the 1998 Columbus tornado

 

[eric11]

New footage from the 1998 Columbus tornado

I also have a pic which might not have been published before.

 

[buckeye05]

Was anyone aware that there is video of the 1974 Kennard, IN F4? I had no idea any videos of this tornado existed and its blowing my mind. Makes me wonder how many historic tornadoes have been filmed, but the footage was forgotten or lost. Also, if you're into vintage tornado video, you have to check out the guy's channel. Literally a library of digitized historic tornado video, some of which I have never seen before, like this video from Kennard.