The El Reno Tornado: Lessons Learned from a Deadly Storm

💨Tornado motion is unpredictable, making it difficult to determine their path and speed.

🌀Tornadoes can rapidly expand in size, increasing the danger for those in close proximity.

🌪️Anticyclonic tornadoes, spinning in the opposite direction of the main tornado, can pose additional risks.

⚠️The notch of a high precipitation supercell, located to the left of the tornado, can be extremely dangerous.

🌧️Heavy rain can hide the tornado, making it vital to rely on radar updates for tracking its location.

Are all tornadoes predictable in terms of their path and speed?

—No, tornadoes are known for their unpredictability, often changing direction and speed rapidly.

Can tornadoes expand in size?

—Yes, tornadoes can rapidly expand, posing increased danger to those in close proximity.

What is an anticyclonic tornado?

—An anticyclonic tornado spins in the opposite direction of the main tornado, contributing to the complexity of storm systems.

What is the notch of a high precipitation supercell?

—The notch is the dangerous area of a storm located just to the left of the tornado and to the right of large hail.

How can radar be used to track tornadoes?

—Radar updates can provide important information about the location and movement of tornadoes, especially when visibility is limited by heavy rain.

00:02On May 31, 2013, a powerful tornado formed near El Reno, Oklahoma.

00:38The tornado exhibited unusual behavior, changing speed and direction unpredictably.

01:18Tragically, the El Reno tornado claimed the lives of storm chasers and observers.

04:57The instability and energy in the atmosphere contributed to the formation of the tornado.

08:04Multiple factors, such as convergence and wind shear, led to the development of intense supercells.

10:24The tornado rapidly intensified, displaying multiple vortices.

14:16The El Reno tornado was much larger than its visible condensation funnel.

18:12The presence of satellite tornadoes and other tornadoes added to the complexity and danger of the storm.