I’m adding more reports and videos to the 2013 storm chase pages – the latest show the wedge tornadoes I saw (or barely saw) on May 28 in Kansas and May 31 at El Reno, Oklahoma. That’s the sad and deadly day that’s on everyone’s mind right now, and I’m going to write about it in a lot more detail, but for now, here are the videos.
First, the wedge tornado at Bennington, Kansas; I would have moved closer had I known it would be on the ground for so long (also see the full report with photos and video):
My video of the May 31 El Reno, Oklahoma, tornado is more of the storm structure than anything else. I wasn’t under the storm at all – nowhere near the danger zone. But the most terrifying part of the chase was being stuck in the traffic jam caused by people fleeing their homes on bad advice from KFOR TV as a circulation bore down. Here it is (also see the full report with photos and video):
The following is NOT my video but is one of the best I’ve seen of the developing tornado at El Reno. Tempest Tours was closer than I would ever be, but far enough back that you can see the mesocyclone and tornado evolve rapidly and violently. Note that this was shot with a wide-angle camera, so they’re closer than it looks: