Significant Tornado Events

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

So the Guin tornado has its own Wikipedia article now:

1974 Guin tornado - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Two things that struck me of note; one is the bit how Fujita considered rating it an "F6" but then decided on "F5+" and how it had a forward speed of 75 mph, the fastest observed in any tornado. I found the sources that mention these things so it's not just some random Wikipedia monkey spouting nonsense.

Skip Tucker: The Finger of God

Today, Beth Tucker will say a prayer for tornado victims everywhere - past, present and future. She’ll pray for those killed or wounded, in whatever way, in Beauregard, Alabama and in Havana, Cuba.

aldailynews.com

 

[NewFoundWeatherNerd]

So the Guin tornado has its own Wikipedia article now:

1974 Guin tornado - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Two things that struck me of note; one is the bit how Fujita considered rating it an "F6" but then decided on "F5+" and how it had a forward speed of 75 mph, the fastest observed in any tornado. I found the sources that mention these things so it's not just some random Wikipedia monkey spouting nonsense.

Skip Tucker: The Finger of God

Today, Beth Tucker will say a prayer for tornado victims everywhere - past, present and future. She’ll pray for those killed or wounded, in whatever way, in Beauregard, Alabama and in Havana, Cuba.

aldailynews.com

"Wikipedia Monkey" ok thats really funny lol.
But quick correction! 75 MPH is NOT the fastest forward speed seen on a tornado, as both Greenfield 2024, and Tri-State both also went 75 MPH! But the fastest forward speed was actually from the East Pilger NE EF4: which went 94 MPH forward while being slingshotted by the Wakefield EF4!!

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

"Wikipedia Monkey" ok thats really funny lol.
But quick correction! 75 MPH is NOT the fastest forward speed seen on a tornado, as both Greenfield 2024, and Tri-State both also went 75 MPH! But the fastest forward speed was actually from the East Pilger NE EF4: which went 94 MPH forward while being slingshotted by the Wakefield EF4!!

OK East Pilger that forward speed was in its dissipating stages; that's not the same as traveling 94 mph your whole life span. Tri-State's forward speed was 73, although from that long ago I'm not sure how you'd measure that, given how limited technology was then. Also, where's your source for Greenfield moving 75 mph?

 

[HAwkmoon]

OK East Pilger that forward speed was in its dissipating stages; that's not the same as traveling 94 mph your whole life span. Tri-State's forward speed was 73, although from that long ago I'm not sure how you'd measure that, given how limited technology was then.

That measurement was estimated between two towns, so naturally the forward speed is a wild estimation and it is very probable it could have exceeded that at one point. But you are absolutely right.

 

[SpotlightForRareTornadoes]

"Wikipedia Monkey" ok thats really funny lol.
But quick correction! 75 MPH is NOT the fastest forward speed seen on a tornado, as both Greenfield 2024, and Tri-State both also went 75 MPH! But the fastest forward speed was actually from the East Pilger NE EF4: which went 94 MPH forward while being slingshotted by the Wakefield EF4!!

Wow! Greenfield moved that fast?

 

[NewFoundWeatherNerd]

Wow! Greenfield moved that fast?

According to eyewitness accounts, and a few of my own estimates: looks like it! It rapidly rushed across the highway, which nearly resulted in a friend of mine getting hit

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

According to eyewitness accounts, and a few of my own estimates: looks like it! It rapidly rushed across the highway, which nearly resulted in a friend of mine getting hit

Unless it's mentioned in a survey of it, I'm not sure. It definitely was moving around 60 mph, though.

 

[TheSuckZone]

Sorry if this has already been posted. First time I have seen this video of the '91 Andover tornado.

 

[slenker]

Sorry if this has already been posted. First time I have seen this video of the '91 Andover tornado.

That might be the most impressive visible rotation I’ve ever seen. When it’s at its closest near the end, it looks like an even meaner version of Greenfield with the extreme subvortex action. I wonder if it’s possible to perform photogrammetry with that video.

 

[Western_KS_Wx]

Sorry if this has already been posted. First time I have seen this video of the '91 Andover tornado.

That is some seriously impressive footage. Probably the loudest roar I’ve ever heard on video, and like slenker said easily the most violent rotation clearly filmed.

 

[Western_KS_Wx]

@Western_KS_Wx So, how was your Greensburg project?

Just saw this, but it’s going much better! Going to have much more time after this semester is over to get back to work on it, but in the meantime I’ve been gathering some amazing resources.

I’ve been in touch with Tim Marshall and he was gracious enough to send me a USB drive of roughly 1000 incredibly high-quality photos from his survey on Greensburg. Haven’t really combed through all of them, but looked at the ~300 aerial photographs and it’s some pretty extreme stuff. Pretty much confirmed my thinking that Greensburg was right on par with Joplin and Parkersburg intensity-wise.

I am also going to try and get back in touch with a few of the mets at NWS Dodge City to get some more info on the post-Greensburg tornadoes. I got into contact with a few locals that claimed to have several photo albums from Trousdale and Hopewell, but haven’t heard back in a while unfortunately.

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

That might be the most impressive visible rotation I’ve ever seen. When it’s at its closest near the end, it looks like an even meaner version of Greenfield with the extreme subvortex action. I wonder if it’s possible to perform photogrammetry with that video.

The most intense rotation ever caught is Pampa, TX 1995; that said Andover is definitely a close second.

 

[Ivanthetornadoenthusiast]

Just saw this, but it’s going much better! Going to have much more time after this semester is over to get back to work on it, but in the meantime I’ve been gathering some amazing resources.

I’ve been in touch with Tim Marshall and he was gracious enough to send me a USB drive of roughly 1000 incredibly high-quality photos from his survey on Greensburg. Haven’t really combed through all of them, but looked at the ~300 aerial photographs and it’s some pretty extreme stuff. Pretty much confirmed my thinking that Greensburg was right on par with Joplin and Parkersburg intensity-wise.

I am also going to try and get back in touch with a few of the mets at NWS Dodge City to get some more info on the post-Greensburg tornadoes. I got into contact with a few locals that claimed to have several photo albums from Trousdale and Hopewell, but haven’t heard back in a while unfortunately.

I wonder how many EF5 DIs are there in Greensburg

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

That is some seriously impressive footage. Probably the loudest roar I’ve ever heard on video, and like slenker said easily the most violent rotation clearly filmed.

You've never seen Pampa, TX have you? Lol

 

[Western_KS_Wx]

I wonder how many EF5 DIs are there in Greensburg

I believe it’s 7 officially rated EF5, but that’s mainly due to the construction quality within town. There were dozens and dozens of homes and businesses that were swept away, but the quality of construction prevented more areas being rated EF5.

 

[Western_KS_Wx]

You've never seen Pampa, TX have you? Lol

I have, I still would give the edge to Andover though. Just an opinion, but Andover in that video has about as violent of rotation you will ever see.

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

Sorry if this has already been posted. First time I have seen this video of the '91 Andover tornado.

Looks like it was taped not that far from this iconic video:

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

I have, I still would give the edge to Andover though. Just an opinion, but Andover in that video has about as violent of rotation you will ever see.

Check this compressed footage from Pampa, around the moment where the pickup trucks are sucked in and centrifuged out; you can REALLY see the drillbit motions on it here. Also note how quickly the pickups go in and out:

Significant Tornado Events

I don't see why it shouldn't be if done decently. And it should be a lot easier to do these days with computers rather than having to enlarge, trace and align frames by hand. IIRC Roger Wakimoto did a photogrammetric analysis on the El Reno '13 tentacle monster, and I vaguely recall a couple...

talkweather.com

A previous user did the compressions, the video you have to click here to see.

 

[Juliett Bravo Kilo]

Found this on Alabama state archives, a Guin damage aerial. Not the best quality sadly but you can see how narrow the core of extreme winds was with this thing and how extreme the wind-rowing of debris was:

 

[Tanner]

Sort of off topic, but does anyone know some good ways/sources to find tornado damage photos? I'm talking search queries, methods, etc.