I think that if even the loudest storm chaser, let's say for the sake of arguement Reed Timmer, was faced with the same thing Dan was in this, even he would be at a loss for words. Maybe not.
CHOSEN 7 KINGS Ik this is very old and you may have seen his Chanel but check out peco hank his video over this storm is absolutely amazing he talks but it's not annoying and his video quality is amazing
He's a total idiot we're just standing up so close into such a behemoth and that would be me right there I'll be like I'm getting the hell out of here f*** this I'm not risking my life over stupid footage like this thing is a monster this is like the one from Into the Storm EF5 I would not just Dan there and just take stupid footage of a video or screenshot it and say hey I'm right next to a big beast I'm just going to sit by and just take a video of it for a long. Time it to eventually starts licking my legs off to the ground I mean know this guy's an idiot for doing this he could have been killed I mean that's very close to a super large tornado like this I'm surprised that didn't even take them cuz he was that close but seem to he was pretty far away he couldn't get any closer than that cuz you would have been dead if you try to get closer this thing is a monster enema cause billions of dollars of damage lots of deaths to if people are not warned
@Damien Griffiths This tornado is literally the largest and most powerful cyclone ever recorded. Dan is a professional chaser, he knows what he’s doing, he most certainly is NOT an idiot. EVERYONE underestimated this beast and multiple chasers even more experienced than Dan died in it. I’d love to see you survive this tornado like he did whilst also getting “stupid footage” of it.. because that’s literally his job.
Worst case scenario for both amateur and professional chasers alike. This tornado was the most unpredictable they've ever seen due to it's record widith, intense sub-vortices and shrouded in rain. R.I.P. the people that were lost that day.
Yea the storm chaser his son and his cameraman were killed by the small tornadoes or vortexes the called it they said the tornado itself didnt kill them it was one of the vortexes that did I still cant believe a tornado could be this wide I have always had a deep passion and fascination for tornadoes the only time in science class in school where I made straight A's used to know the whole Fuji scale all the ratings the wind speed and the damage expected for each one by heart and can name them off without looking at it my mom told me when she realized how interested and fascinated I was with them and she told me at the age of nine when she noticed she told me then that I found my calling and something to consider as a career field either giving the weather on TV or on the outside chasing them and studying them..... up till she died in 2018 she begged me to do it and she had me talked into it me and her was gonna do it together but since she died I dont care nothing about it no more
Watch the one where he is escaping from this tornado and almost dies getting out of his car.I’m amazed he is still alive after that not sure how he survived.something tells me he won’t make that mistake twice.
One of those is my greatest fear yet I can’t stop watching !!! Professional or not it take guts to do this and I believe everyone that does do this does it to save lives not for the “ fun of it “ because how much fun is that ???
@kingrobert7246 a group of stormchasers were killed by this tornado it was the first time any storm chaser died from a tornado, I would like to see you go experience this, lol.
Tim Samaras and his crew were right behind Dan as Tim was going for a probe deployment and Dan was attempting an escape. At 4:53, as Dan records behind himself while he's still in the tornado's circulation, you can see that Tim's headlights aren't there. Him and his crew were in a compact Chevy Cobalt and couldn't escape the tornado as they were being slowed down by the horrible road conditions and 100mph+ windspeeds
It's been calculated that a Cobalt with the load they had on board would have been able to make 40 MPH at best in those conditions. The storm was moving at 55 MPH+ at that point. They are all still sorely missed 5 years later- RIP
I just read 'The Man Who Caught the Storm' and remember the descriptive scene where Dan drove through the tornado and shouted, "I just drove through that". To see the actual footage just makes it all seem to surreal.
This tornado is so odd. There’s plenty footage of it forming and plenty of it shrouded in rain and a miles wide, but it’s difficult to track the transition between these two stages. It just seemed to happen out of nowhere.
Max Shaw It was really scary how it moved around too it was so out of the norm and almost nonsensical it would just stop, sit there, then turn back at 55mph, suddenly whip sideways, etc. The only reason those guys got caught is because it was so odd and broke all normal behavior.
Dude, this is amazing. This entire tornado literally just seemed mean and ugly from the second it hit the ground and just swelled, half choking itself with debris and then coming back harder and stronger when it cleared the debris up and away. So glad you survived. That must have been an unbelievable experience.
@@icantthinkofausername1542 nearly f6 in terms of wind speed though. the scales are so stupid. this monster definitely deserves the f5/f6 rating for the wind speed alone
@@icantthinkofausername1542 it's 1 or 1a along with Moore 1999 in terms of highest measured wind speeds of all time, and it's a reliable rating using radar data. It just didn't hit anything of note while at its peak intensity, so the NWS moved it back from EF5 to EF3.
This is probably the best footage out there of the multiple dancing vortexes swirling around the base before they were able to combine into one massive wedge. Amazing shot, Dan. Glad you were able to get out safely. And thanks for sharing. Keep up the great work, and stay safe out there bud.
But they died doing what they loved. If any tornado was going to get them....it had to be the this one. It was the biggest and the most epic of all tornadoes. But yes. Rip.
wow. when the tornado was forming there was so much violent motion in the wall cloud, that it looked like the cloud was actually boiling. just a big, black, ugly, and dangerous boiling wall of death.
Ohio glitter Twister it was a wall cloud that had a circulation on the ground at the beginning, then it developed multiple vortices around the edge of the circulation, then partially rain-wrapped but with the entire wall cloud denoting the circulation on the ground and the multiple vortices converging into an extra-intense “core” that did touch the ground. Then it became completely rain wrapped however at that moment the circulation began to encompass the entire rain wrapping, with the wedge shaped core also widening. The core is where the 301 mph winds were located
The El Reno tornado was a different animal... The atmospheric conditions that had to come together on this day to create this beast still astounds me... Rest in Peace, Tim, Paul, and Carl...
@@JohnDavis-yz9nq actually it was 2.6 miles but 3 miles would actually be terrifying. If it was, l don’t think any of the chasers would have been able to escape
At 4:53, Dan you caught the Tornado as it reached maximum intensity after it touched down. Lucky for you to survive and be with us and as for Tim and his son and friend who were right behind you when they got killed may they rest in peace.
They were right behind him, thats whats so sad. I'm actually grateful for Dan he was where he was because he literally JUST made it out and almost got nailed.
I have been watching your video's since the El Reno tornado. Your footage on this storm made you stick out to me; so, I just subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work!
The May 31st, 2013 El Reno tornado was actually rated an EF3. It did have powerful winds, as indicated by radar, which could have easily classified it as an EF5. However, the Enhanced Fujita scale only measures tornadoes based on their damage, and the damage it produced was that of an EF3. Thus, it was officially rated EF3, but with a radar-estimated rating of an EF5.
To see footage from this perspective,the hollow roarroar as it formed and the way these 3 cells organized I to one begemoth is amazing. Its also a sad reminder of lives lost. This is perhaps the rawest footage of this event. Thanks for sharing Dan
I agree but it seems the only damage it left that was measurable was in the EF-3 range..."the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, stated that, "despite the radar-measured wind speeds, the survey team did not find damage that would support a rating higher than EF3" ....I would think all they would have had to do was look at the Twistex Team's car and they would see EF-5 damage
Me personally will always see this tornado as an E-F5 just because if this went into Oklohoma city it would cause destruction and devistation on biblical proportions the likes we have never seen from a tornado.
It was upgraded to an ef5 after they found that registered ground speed winds exceeded 300 mph. I believe its either the strongest or 2nd strongest winds ever recorded in the history of the world. If this hit a populated area they would of had to come up with a higher number than 5 on the scale. Many many people would have died.
I don't know, that doesn't make sense to me. It's not a solid object that will create impact sound in of itself. Most likely it's thunder from lightning which accompanies storms like this.
The fact this tornado had 3-4 vertical vortices at a time, and multiple horizontal vortices at a time is incredible! THEN ADD IN THE FACT IS WAS OVER 2 1/2 MILES WIDE! This was truly a specimen!
It's almost the 10th anniversary of this monster and the death of the three Twistex members, and remembered I had to see this footage again. I wish the other footage of them could be released respectfully. That's Twistex behind you, isn't it? 😢 Insane footage and Rest In Peace Tim, Carl, and Paul.
As a weather enthusiast, I must extend a much-deserved thank you for the footage and work that you do. Your ability to remain relatively calm in the face of the largest tornado in history is awe-inspiring and proves how dedicated you are to your craft. Your footage was also invaluable to finding out what happened to one of the most cautious and brightest men within the chasing/meteorological community, Tim Samaras. I can only imagine the images of the eerie, yet poetic way that the TWISTEX team was last captured by your rear-camera haunt you still to this day. I wish you the best in the future and hope you find peace with that day. I'm not a religious person and wouldn't normally say this, but given what the storm did - reaching out to them like a hand lifting them from this earth - mother nature had its own agenda and nothing can stop mother nature. I truly wish you find peace, Dan. You deserve it. For those that don't know about Tim & TWISTEX, Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young lost their lives about a mile, give or take, from where Dan first stopped in this video (shown, I believe, around the 5:00 mark). The last shot of the TWISTEX crew was from Dan's rear camera. One moment, there were headlights, then there weren't and within 20 seconds, the meteorological community lost - arguably - their most beneficial, autodidactic meteorologist and engineer. Tim's inventions and efforts increased meteorological knowledge in a huge way. He was the first to do what the movie Twister depicted, albeit in real life and not film. He was the first to design probes that measured data from inside the tornado including temperature, humidity and wind speed and direction. He is also in the Guinness Book of World Records for having recorded the biggest pressure drop ever recorded on Earth. Very sad indeed, but fitting that the most influential chaser alive at the time - and most cautious - would succumb to the largest, most unpredictable, most rule-breaking tornado that ever found its way to the ground. May everyone affected by the world's loss find peace. May you find peace, Dan. Thanks for your work and your awesome website. I have been a follower of yours for some time and look forward to your continued dedication to this most dangerous field. Peace.
That's also what deceived the unfortunate victims of the notorious Tri State Tornado of 1925. While it was first visible when it formed, it too became wrapped in heavy rain & hail.
Gargoyle Man I've heard the same, apparently witnesses described it as a giant black cloud moving along the ground others say it was like rolling black fog. To think it was on the ground for 3 and half hours too.
Dan, I understand you were the last person to see the three people who were killed, and almost got it yourself. Such unimaginable power I can not fathom. Have been caught "naked" in similar but lesser events and it is frightening and we are helpless.
The whistling wind at about .40 to .48 is very ominous. The way the sub vortices went up and down and accelerated is very scary. Then the tornado grinding toward you at 4;51 would just make me want to leave. Beautiful video.
This one was a single tornado at this point, but chock-full of small subvortices near the edges. The storm damage (and probably the funnel) was essentially as large as the wall cloud itself. A real monster.
Yea I almost cried when I read about this and seen the video when the vortexes caught them and all u see is their car flying and flipping not only did his wife loose a husband but also a son cant imagine the pain she felt and went through and still going through cause loosing a husband hurts to the core but they say loosing a child is worse than loosing a momma or spouse.... but it brings me comfort he died doing what he loved and if he could come back to earth I bet my last dollar he would do it all again he had some of the prettiest pictures of lightening and tornadoes that only are seen in magazines or painted by an artist the beginning of these super cells that produces tornadoes are honestly beautiful and picturesque and when the tornado first forms and they are that white color has always been beautiful too to me also they are white at first the more " it eats" as meteorologists and chasers calls it well the more it eats the darker it gets....
You are nutz! I watch one of your videos almost everyday. You were so close and caught the forward expansion, I think, very well. How fast that grew and move was scary. You couldn't even get a clear defined image because it was so big!! Wow be safe and keep the videos coming!!
This is the best thing I have ever seen - it seems that way this minute.... It is like watching the greatest, most overwhelming natural force as it's being created. You put yourself right in the middle of that. Incredible. You were either quietly terrified, or you are a true hero. And no distracting yelling, or trying to upstage nature. Thank you for your awesome work!
Wow! Those winds were incredible from the beginning. Very unpredictable and dangerous tornado, and I can’t understand the downgrade to EF-3 when clearly it was an EF-5 based off of Doppler wind speeds in excess of 300mph. So glad you made it out alive and can live to chase another storm.
@@BillboardCowboysad, really. There needs to be a happy medium of both the old and new scales. These winds were almost 100mph greater than Moore 11 days earlier.
This tornado is unique in that it seems as though the whole meso sat on the ground once the subvortices got a good grasp. I believe the ingredients for this tornado should be looked at carefully.
4:44 You can briefly see headlights in his passenger side mirror. Wasn't the Samaras Cobalt supposed to be behind him when this happened? I wonder if that's it.
Wondering about fall-off in video quality toward the end....then remembered it was "El Reno" and they were in a very dangerous position. Thanks for posting.
Most of the el reno videos start with people filming the tornado from a distance and then at some point realizing that they are actually now in the tornado.
The thing that still just blows my mind is normally you think of a Tornado and you picture a funnel, white or brown from the ground to the sky. You can see it... you can see it move across the landscape etc. This Tornado doesn't even look like one to me.. it's just a wall. And I can fathom how that "wall" is actually spinning at 300 miles an hour.
Exactly what I'm saying. Like most of the time from numerous videos I've seen, you can't even make out a distinct shape. The thing was so massive it really did look like the entire skyline just fell down and started rotating. I can't even begin to imagine if this thing took the same path as the bridge creek moore tornado. That would've been horrific.
Dan you are lucky to be alive. It's crazy how Twistex didn't make it out and they weren't that far behind you and yet you both had tiny cars chasing that day. I know Tim Carl and Paul were in a Cobalt and you was in a Yaris. I can't even begin to imagine chasing a tornado like that in a Yaris, I would've probably shit in my pants. Glad you made it out. You captured some great video, especially on another video I watched when you was racing to get out and Twistex was behind you. You make it out and decide to get out of your car while you still had tornadic winds hitting you and then the hail destroying your car. You got some really good video though and hopefully you chase a little smarter now since you almost died.b nbc
It's almost like the multiple vortices that form and dissipate when the tornado is first touching down pull the entire wall cloud down from above. Imagine an entire cloud becoming a violent, angry tornado spinning at 300mph. Insane.
It’s scary to see something like this and this large just forming over you. You don’t know where it starts because of its size. It could be forming somewhere completely far away or right above you.
I can't wait to see 4k tornado footage. Experts are saying they learn far more from 4k tornado footage than 'HD' 1080p stuff. Because the 4k camera sensors capture so much more detail. This dude is freaking lucky to be alive. Highly experienced chasers got consumed by this thing but he got out (barely).
That tornado was 2.6 miles in diameter, on the ground for 40 minutes and traveled 16.2 miles. I remember this tornado because it was on my birthday and I remember being so worried about a family member.
el reno had a one mile wide ef5 tornado in 2011 that picked up a 1.9 million pound oil derrick and rolled it at least 3 times. the 2011 el reno tornado had wind speeds recorded at 280 mph and the 2.6 mile wide tornado in 2013 had even higher wind speeds recorded at 296 mph.
According to the documentary "Inside the Mega Twister" where it showed Dan Crossing Hwy 81, continuing east, it also showed that behind Dan was Team twistex. Both of them were trying to outrun it, but one the multiple vortices were on top of them. Dan's dashcam of this shows how powerful and difficult it was to escape it.
Man living on the east coast I sometimes forget that places like this even exist in the U.S. lol. I'm not used to my nearest neighbor being 10 miles away
Don't think so. He had to abandon his truck, and take shelter from the tornado in a ditch--ditches are safer, than vehicle's. A car or truck is the worst place to get caught in a tornado! Tim Samaras, Carl Young, and Tim's son, were overtaken by this tornado in a small white Chevy Cobalt car. Afterwards, Tim was found still strapped in this car by his seatbelt, while the other two were both thrown/carried a half a mile away from where the car landed. Their car looked like a piece of scrap metal. It was horrific.
Seatbelts are not your worst nightmare in any scenerio. If you're trapped in your car in a tornado, you're better off with the seatbelt than without it. Seatbelts are _always_ good unless you need to escape the vehicle. Cars are designed to be safe from impacts and rolls.... Only if you're sitting right with a seatbelt. Though nothing is going to save you if you get picked up or tossed around by 250+ winds.
El Reno was not officially an EF5. The NWS officially rated it an EF3 after the damage survey. However, if this tornado had struck in the time of the F scale, it would indeed be a F5. It most likely would have been an EF5 of it were to (Unfortunately) hit a town (In this case, El Reno)
Hi Dan, I came across your blog on Storm Highway talking about your close encounter with the 2.6 mile wide Tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma and I got a few questions to ask you. While I was reading about your experience, I found something very interesting. (I'm so sorry if you got so many questions like this!) You said after the storm blew over, you were not aware about the twistex team's fate during the time. But while you were reviewing the footage on one of your cameras (I think it was your back camera?), you got the colbalt on film while both you and the Twistex team were going on Reuter Rd & Highway 81. [Question #1]: I'm not asking for you to give me the footage because that would be very disrespectful to the families and friends who knew Tim and his crew. I'm just going to ask if you could possibly tell me some details about if you saw the mistake they made and if you heard their conversation during their final moments? Once again, I am sorry if you got Millions of questions like #1 it's just that my friend's and I were inspired by Twistex so now I want to do some research about what went wrong during the time. [Question #2]: Did you see the Native American legend "The Dead Man Walking" or something similar to the one seen in Jarrel, TX in the year 1997? [Final Question]: Were there any reports of damage to buildings from the tornado? I'm just asking because I'm still in denial about the [cough][cough] "Official" [cough] rating calling it an "EF3". I understand if you don't want to answer #1, #2, or #3 and you don't have to and yes I know I'm way to young for my age to be a weather enthusiast lol. Please respond if possible. -Helix
Dan does not speak about the loss of his friends that day- please understand and respect that. You can find the answers to your questions online from other chasers who were there. I suggest that approach if you really want to know and understand this tornado and what happened that day. This tornado changed the spotting and chasing world forever.
And yet, the NWS only grades it an EF-3 because it had started dissipating when it came in contact with an urban area. This was absolutely an EF-5: 2.6 miles wide, a bear's cage that extended for miles in all directions with inflow that was heavily restricting vehicles over a mile away from escaping, 300 mph winds at its peak, incredibly violent with some of the least predictable behavior ever seen, and the most scientifically analyzed tornado in history. Also, incredible footage!
Finally someone who was peaceful enough to Video the Storm without talking
alot
he has the appropriate relationship with the storm, awe and terror, rather than repeating phrases over and over.
I think that if even the loudest storm chaser, let's say for the sake of arguement Reed Timmer, was faced with the same thing Dan was in this, even he would be at a loss for words. Maybe not.
I agree HOWEVER, Wicked Witch of the West music growing louder and louder might be neat in the background.
CHOSEN 7 KINGS Ik this is very old and you may have seen his Chanel but check out peco hank his video over this storm is absolutely amazing he talks but it's not annoying and his video quality is amazing
Go and check out Pecos Hank he’s a good storm chaser too
The person who filmed this is insane and I love them for it.
and dead
He's a total idiot we're just standing up so close into such a behemoth and that would be me right there I'll be like I'm getting the hell out of here f*** this I'm not risking my life over stupid footage like this thing is a monster this is like the one from Into the Storm EF5 I would not just Dan there and just take stupid footage of a video or screenshot it and say hey I'm right next to a big beast I'm just going to sit by and just take a video of it for a long. Time it to eventually starts licking my legs off to the ground I mean know this guy's an idiot for doing this he could have been killed I mean that's very close to a super large tornado like this I'm surprised that didn't even take them cuz he was that close but seem to he was pretty far away he couldn't get any closer than that cuz you would have been dead if you try to get closer this thing is a monster enema cause billions of dollars of damage lots of deaths to if people are not warned
@Damien Griffiths This tornado is literally the largest and most powerful cyclone ever recorded. Dan is a professional chaser, he knows what he’s doing, he most certainly is NOT an idiot. EVERYONE underestimated this beast and multiple chasers even more experienced than Dan died in it. I’d love to see you survive this tornado like he did whilst also getting “stupid footage” of it.. because that’s literally his job.
@@damiengriffithsaudiosurfch1158 Feel better getting that out of your system? lol
@@mr.palmtree2384 NOT dead...
Worst case scenario for both amateur and professional chasers alike. This tornado was the most unpredictable they've ever seen due to it's record widith, intense sub-vortices and shrouded in rain. R.I.P. the people that were lost that day.
Plus I believe it changed course, widened and sped up all at the same time, achieving highway speeds.
Rip twistex team
Yea the storm chaser his son and his cameraman were killed by the small tornadoes or vortexes the called it they said the tornado itself didnt kill them it was one of the vortexes that did I still cant believe a tornado could be this wide I have always had a deep passion and fascination for tornadoes the only time in science class in school where I made straight A's used to know the whole Fuji scale all the ratings the wind speed and the damage expected for each one by heart and can name them off without looking at it my mom told me when she realized how interested and fascinated I was with them and she told me at the age of nine when she noticed she told me then that I found my calling and something to consider as a career field either giving the weather on TV or on the outside chasing them and studying them..... up till she died in 2018 she begged me to do it and she had me talked into it me and her was gonna do it together but since she died I dont care nothing about it no more
Felicia Coleman Your mom sounded like an amazing person. Thanks for sharing your story; I’m sure she’d be proud of anything you decide on doing.
It wasnt really rain wrapped... It was just that big bro
'Welcome to Oklahoma-- Hey, where are you going?'
o
I'm going back to WV where we have mountains!!!!!!!!
I'm being carried by the tornado!
Headed to Kansas Toto!!!!!!
@@doosin8696 lmao. Wherever the tornado is going!
4:52 this is the best footage out there of this tornado
Definitely. The rest is just its weird blobby look.
pecos hanks is the best
Have you seen his other video. This is a cake walk compared to it. But that is a good shot
Best and worst......It's a sad moment in chasing history.
Watch the one where he is escaping from this tornado and almost dies getting out of his car.I’m amazed he is still alive after that not sure how he survived.something tells me he won’t make that mistake twice.
The thunder and howling wind in the beginning of the video (00:20) is absolutely horrifying.
Alice Smith it is
I think they ALL are !
Let it be known throughout the land, that whoever did the sound effects for the "backbuilder" on Twister got this right.
This is the best footage of this tornado, out there. I'm usually a pecos hank viewer but you beat him on this one.
There is another video by 3 guys that is amazing. I will have to find it
I'm glad Pecos wasn't too close to this one. Killed a few chasers.
@@AdamB-mj6cm same dude. i've been on a search for that same video for an hour straight. no luck
@@3three3three3three y’all taking about “the F5hunters” el Reno video where they outran it with a GoPro ?
It’s terrifying how tornadoes can go back up after a while then come back down worse than what it originally looked like. 🥶
It’s not terrfying
One of those is my greatest fear yet I can’t stop watching !!! Professional or not it take guts to do this and I believe everyone that does do this does it to save lives not for the “ fun of it “ because how much fun is that ???
@@kingrobert7246it is because it catches a lot of people off guard and they can get seriously injured or killed.
Like playing games with people
@kingrobert7246 a group of stormchasers were killed by this tornado it was the first time any storm chaser died from a tornado, I would like to see you go experience this, lol.
Not to self never move to Oklahoma
Peter Trent aye
or Kansas or northern texas or south dakota or eastern colorado or missouri or arkansas or iowa
Peter Trent welp i live in OKLAHOMA
Peter Trent right now im taking shelter because theres a tornado RIGHT NOW LOOK IT UP
Peter Trent note*
boy do you guys put a lot of trust in your vehicles
Adabsurdum sadly tim was in a small chevy cobalt (not the best for a stormchaser mind you) as it has only so much weight
Seriously...dead battery or a flat tire and game over.
Tim Samaras and his crew were right behind Dan as Tim was going for a probe deployment and Dan was attempting an escape. At 4:53, as Dan records behind himself while he's still in the tornado's circulation, you can see that Tim's headlights aren't there. Him and his crew were in a compact Chevy Cobalt and couldn't escape the tornado as they were being slowed down by the horrible road conditions and 100mph+ windspeeds
It's been calculated that a Cobalt with the load they had on board would have been able to make 40 MPH at best in those conditions. The storm was moving at 55 MPH+ at that point. They are all still sorely missed 5 years later- RIP
P RO how the heck are running those numbers ???
This tornado had a mind of its own. It couldn't decide whether it wanted to touch down at.
Tornadoes like these are called multiple vortex tornadoes because of the multiple smaller funnels inside the parent tornado (as seen in the video)
Shanard White then if they form together then you get a MONSTER tornado
@@60103FlyingScotsman you mean like a 2.6 MILE wide tornado? 🌪️
@@muckrak3r oh no my family cant bike that fast
I just read 'The Man Who Caught the Storm' and remember the descriptive scene where Dan drove through the tornado and shouted, "I just drove through that". To see the actual footage just makes it all seem to surreal.
This tornado is so odd. There’s plenty footage of it forming and plenty of it shrouded in rain and a miles wide, but it’s difficult to track the transition between these two stages. It just seemed to happen out of nowhere.
There is a real time compilation of videos of its entire life cycle. You can see the changes there. Its amazing.
What when
Definitely did not happen out of nowhere. This is literally a THREE HOUR video of it's life cycle. That negates any, "out of nowhere" theory.
1:25 The tornado comes out of nowhere. That was one of the fastest tornado formations I have ever seen!
looks like an elephant's trunk...one of probably hundreds of vortices that monster spawned
geoengineered
Max Shaw I
land otter1 Joplin came down HUGE! Also, watch the beginning of the Moore, OK tornado. It grows so incredibly fast.
Max Shaw It was really scary how it moved around too it was so out of the norm and almost nonsensical it would just stop, sit there, then turn back at 55mph, suddenly whip sideways, etc. The only reason those guys got caught is because it was so odd and broke all normal behavior.
Dude, this is amazing. This entire tornado literally just seemed mean and ugly from the second it hit the ground and just swelled, half choking itself with debris and then coming back harder and stronger when it cleared the debris up and away.
So glad you survived. That must have been an unbelievable experience.
Almost 8 years later, I'm still amazed at the size of this tornado and the damage it produced
not much damage but it caught many chasers
EF-3 overall in terms of damage but it was highly unpredictable and dangerous because of its size.
@@icantthinkofausername1542 nearly f6 in terms of wind speed though. the scales are so stupid. this monster definitely deserves the f5/f6 rating for the wind speed alone
Still amazed in 2023
@@icantthinkofausername1542 it's 1 or 1a along with Moore 1999 in terms of highest measured wind speeds of all time, and it's a reliable rating using radar data. It just didn't hit anything of note while at its peak intensity, so the NWS moved it back from EF5 to EF3.
This is probably the best footage out there of the multiple dancing vortexes swirling around the base before they were able to combine into one massive wedge. Amazing shot, Dan. Glad you were able to get out safely. And thanks for sharing. Keep up the great work, and stay safe out there bud.
sounds like someone keeps walking around on bubble wrap
Like
+Sky “Skylane” Lane Someone poured milk on Rice Krispies.
aSmR
It does xd
that's as big as a cloudburst not a tornado
R.I.P Carl Young Paul samaras and Tim Samaras all killed by this tornado trying to chase it
yeah the greatest tornado expert died not chasing he went right in side of it trying to escape I watched about it on tv
+Brent Guglielemencci Actually. There were behind Dan.
I've seen it too, and they said they were more than far enough away from the tornado. It's believed they were struck by a subvortice.
Chris Mcquay
But they died doing what they loved. If any tornado was going to get them....it had to be the this one. It was the biggest and the most epic of all tornadoes. But yes. Rip.
wow. when the tornado was forming there was so much violent motion in the wall cloud, that it looked like the cloud was actually boiling. just a big, black, ugly, and dangerous boiling wall of death.
being 2.6 miles wide
the wall cloud WAS the tornado xD
BowlingGlaceon lol. you got that right. the whole wall cloud dropped like a brick and became a wall of death.
True. It doesn't happen often but it did here and nobody expected it.
Shocking how much it did not look like a tornado.
Zoomer30 that's how the tri state 1925 tornado looked like too according to survivors.
Right???
It's a multi vortex tornado
I wanna say it was rain wrapped.
Ohio glitter Twister it was a wall cloud that had a circulation on the ground at the beginning, then it developed multiple vortices around the edge of the circulation, then partially rain-wrapped but with the entire wall cloud denoting the circulation on the ground and the multiple vortices converging into an extra-intense “core” that did touch the ground. Then it became completely rain wrapped however at that moment the circulation began to encompass the entire rain wrapping, with the wedge shaped core also widening. The core is where the 301 mph winds were located
It had so much energy, it couldn't decide what it wanted to do first.
It was 3 miles wide. Hard to believe.
The El Reno tornado was a different animal...
The atmospheric conditions that had to come together on this day to create this beast still astounds me...
Rest in Peace, Tim, Paul, and Carl...
@@JohnDavis-yz9nq actually it was 2.6 miles but 3 miles would actually be terrifying. If it was, l don’t think any of the chasers would have been able to escape
At 4:53, Dan you caught the Tornado as it reached maximum intensity after it touched down. Lucky for you to survive and be with us and as for Tim and his son and friend who were right behind you when they got killed may they rest in peace.
Kanefan701 That Is A Big Monster Right There
How close was he to them?
Close enough that out of respect for the family the footage won't be released - which I respect Dan for as well.
They were right behind him, thats whats so sad. I'm actually grateful for Dan he was where he was because he literally JUST made it out and almost got nailed.
Kanefan701 yes
I have been watching your video's since the El Reno tornado. Your footage on this storm made you stick out to me; so, I just subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work!
The May 31st, 2013 El Reno tornado was actually rated an EF3. It did have powerful winds, as indicated by radar, which could have easily classified it as an EF5. However, the Enhanced Fujita scale only measures tornadoes based on their damage, and the damage it produced was that of an EF3. Thus, it was officially rated EF3, but with a radar-estimated rating of an EF5.
Who cares theyre wrong the scale should be changed
@@aeida6140no they are not wrong.
@@dingbat19they are
They are not
To see footage from this perspective,the hollow roarroar as it formed and the way these 3 cells organized I to one begemoth is amazing. Its also a sad reminder of lives lost. This is perhaps the rawest footage of this event. Thanks for sharing Dan
This thing was the leviathan of all time...prob bigger than the tri-state tornado...just didn't track as long but wow...needs an offical EF-5 rating
I agree but it seems the only damage it left that was measurable was in the EF-3 range..."the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, stated that, "despite the radar-measured wind speeds, the survey team did not find damage that would support a rating higher than EF3" ....I would think all they would have had to do was look at the Twistex Team's car and they would see EF-5 damage
It was bigger than the Tri-state tornado size-wise. Tri state was 1 mi wide.
The TriState tornado was a series of tornadoes from the same parent storm.
Me personally will always see this tornado as an E-F5 just because if this went into Oklohoma city it would cause destruction and devistation on biblical proportions the likes we have never seen from a tornado.
It was upgraded to an ef5 after they found that registered ground speed winds exceeded 300 mph. I believe its either the strongest or 2nd strongest winds ever recorded in the history of the world. If this hit a populated area they would of had to come up with a higher number than 5 on the scale. Many many people would have died.
Anyone else hear helen hunt screaming 'BILLLLLLL'
I keep waiting for the tornado to make the lion like roar - like it did in that movie. 🤣
Or heidi: DAVE , HoLy CrAp
1:33 You can literally hear it roar when it touches the ground...
asmira666 _ it’s so scary
I don't know, that doesn't make sense to me. It's not a solid object that will create impact sound in of itself. Most likely it's thunder from lightning which accompanies storms like this.
SebSk
No that was the sound of the wind
@@SebHaarfagre sometimes nerds dont understand things
That’s called wind
That turned out to be the scariest tornado I ever seen. Glad you made it out alive! Great video
This is why I live where the air hurts my face.
Damien Greenhood Minnesota?
The fact this tornado had 3-4 vertical vortices at a time, and multiple horizontal vortices at a time is incredible! THEN ADD IN THE FACT IS WAS OVER 2 1/2 MILES WIDE! This was truly a specimen!
3:40 Look how rapidly the wind-field expands in 20 short seconds.
I coulda sore it was 20 long seconds, or even 20 medium seconds...
I dunno about the 20 short ones though...
Your right
It's almost the 10th anniversary of this monster and the death of the three Twistex members, and remembered I had to see this footage again. I wish the other footage of them could be released respectfully. That's Twistex behind you, isn't it? 😢 Insane footage and Rest In Peace Tim, Carl, and Paul.
Wow, it's pretty clear from the very beginning that this thing is mad.
As a weather enthusiast, I must extend a much-deserved thank you for the footage and work that you do. Your ability to remain relatively calm in the face of the largest tornado in history is awe-inspiring and proves how dedicated you are to your craft. Your footage was also invaluable to finding out what happened to one of the most cautious and brightest men within the chasing/meteorological community, Tim Samaras.
I can only imagine the images of the eerie, yet poetic way that the TWISTEX team was last captured by your rear-camera haunt you still to this day. I wish you the best in the future and hope you find peace with that day. I'm not a religious person and wouldn't normally say this, but given what the storm did - reaching out to them like a hand lifting them from this earth - mother nature had its own agenda and nothing can stop mother nature. I truly wish you find peace, Dan. You deserve it.
For those that don't know about Tim & TWISTEX,
Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young lost their lives about a mile, give or take, from where Dan first stopped in this video (shown, I believe, around the 5:00 mark). The last shot of the TWISTEX crew was from Dan's rear camera. One moment, there were headlights, then there weren't and within 20 seconds, the meteorological community lost - arguably - their most beneficial, autodidactic meteorologist and engineer.
Tim's inventions and efforts increased meteorological knowledge in a huge way. He was the first to do what the movie Twister depicted, albeit in real life and not film. He was the first to design probes that measured data from inside the tornado including temperature, humidity and wind speed and direction. He is also in the Guinness Book of World Records for having recorded the biggest pressure drop ever recorded on Earth.
Very sad indeed, but fitting that the most influential chaser alive at the time - and most cautious - would succumb to the largest, most unpredictable, most rule-breaking tornado that ever found its way to the ground.
May everyone affected by the world's loss find peace.
May you find peace, Dan. Thanks for your work and your awesome website. I have been a follower of yours for some time and look forward to your continued dedication to this most dangerous field.
Peace.
Just looks like a huge rain shaft. Deceptive tornado.
That's also what deceived the unfortunate victims of the notorious Tri State Tornado of 1925. While it was first visible when it formed, it too became wrapped in heavy rain & hail.
I know. I'm like "where is the tornado?" Then you realize that whooolle gigantic wall is the tornado and you feel small ._.
Gargoyle Man I've heard the same, apparently witnesses described it as a giant black cloud moving along the ground others say it was like rolling black fog. To think it was on the ground for 3 and half hours too.
Fantastic close-ups! RIP Twistex Team Tim and Paul Samaras and Carl Young! Thank you for all you did!
Thank you for including the sounds.
Dan, I understand you were the last person to see the three people who were killed, and almost got it yourself. Such unimaginable power I can not fathom. Have been caught "naked" in similar but lesser events and it is frightening and we are helpless.
I give the guys credit for even stepping out of the car for this footage
It’s soo beautiful thx 🤟🏻❤️
The whistling wind at about .40 to .48 is very ominous. The way the sub vortices went up and down and accelerated is very scary. Then the tornado grinding toward you at 4;51 would just make me want to leave. Beautiful video.
That looked like a multiple vortex tornado which may partly explain the extreme size of the thing. It was actually wider than a persons field of view.
Callum Kent depends on the distance
This one was a single tornado at this point, but chock-full of small subvortices near the edges. The storm damage (and probably the funnel) was essentially as large as the wall cloud itself. A real monster.
You all know Tim Samaras (Twistex) was right behind this guy on this dirt road but got caught up in it and didn't make it out,right?
Broseph yes, sadly I do know that😭 RIP Twistex Team
Mark yeah he knows RIP the legend that was tim sameras
It went south east and grew😣
Yep the tornado won
Yea I almost cried when I read about this and seen the video when the vortexes caught them and all u see is their car flying and flipping not only did his wife loose a husband but also a son cant imagine the pain she felt and went through and still going through cause loosing a husband hurts to the core but they say loosing a child is worse than loosing a momma or spouse.... but it brings me comfort he died doing what he loved and if he could come back to earth I bet my last dollar he would do it all again he had some of the prettiest pictures of lightening and tornadoes that only are seen in magazines or painted by an artist the beginning of these super cells that produces tornadoes are honestly beautiful and picturesque and when the tornado first forms and they are that white color has always been beautiful too to me also they are white at first the more " it eats" as meteorologists and chasers calls it well the more it eats the darker it gets....
Has to be one of the most chilling, scariest things I've seen - you guys have guts, Ill give you that
You are nutz! I watch one of your videos almost everyday. You were so close and caught the forward expansion, I think, very well. How fast that grew and move was scary. You couldn't even get a clear defined image because it was so big!! Wow be safe and keep the videos coming!!
Imagine looking toward the horizon and finding it's been replaced with a tornado.
This is the best thing I have ever seen - it seems that way this minute.... It is like watching the greatest, most overwhelming natural force as it's being created. You put yourself right in the middle of that. Incredible. You were either quietly terrified, or you are a true hero.
And no distracting yelling, or trying to upstage nature. Thank you for your awesome work!
Wow! Those winds were incredible from the beginning. Very unpredictable and dangerous tornado, and I can’t understand the downgrade to EF-3 when clearly it was an EF-5 based off of Doppler wind speeds in excess of 300mph.
So glad you made it out alive and can live to chase another storm.
Rating is based on damage done, not wind speed.
@@BillboardCowboysad, really. There needs to be a happy medium of both the old and new scales. These winds were almost 100mph greater than Moore 11 days earlier.
Respect to all those storm chasers, and I hope this season stays calm. Be safe yall.
This tornado is unique in that it seems as though the whole meso sat on the ground once the subvortices got a good grasp. I believe the ingredients for this tornado should be looked at carefully.
erpfanatic65 it's like the entire wall cloud dropped and dumped several tornadoes inside it.
I don't think any tornado in history has been more thoroughly documented and studied than this one.
4:44 You can briefly see headlights in his passenger side mirror. Wasn't the Samaras Cobalt supposed to be behind him when this happened? I wonder if that's it.
Yea that's them.
Dan should have cut that part too
This footage illustrates how Twistex team got trapped and killed.
Wondering about fall-off in video quality toward the end....then remembered it was "El Reno" and they were in a very dangerous position. Thanks for posting.
3:57 to see the final formation, 4:53 to see the full beast.
austin thompson 7:53 you can see the beast in full lighting and no rain it’s breathtaking
How wide was it in this video? It's not even close to max size right?
I have to say, a lot of the sounds in this video are scary. Just the sound the wind makes is scary.
Most of the el reno videos start with people filming the tornado from a distance and then at some point realizing that they are actually now in the tornado.
4:45 Look in the rear view. See those headlights? That's the Samaras/Young car. And then they disappear......
Wow, you’re right. Never noticed that before
The most sad part about the video
I don’t think that’s there lights they would’ve disappeared much later in the video
Dan you are very fortunate to be alive!
The wind in the beginning...I could hear it...Scary stuff!! And oh my god that tornado spawned like! BAM!!
The thing that still just blows my mind is normally you think of a Tornado and you picture a funnel, white or brown from the ground to the sky. You can see it... you can see it move across the landscape etc. This Tornado doesn't even look like one to me.. it's just a wall. And I can fathom how that "wall" is actually spinning at 300 miles an hour.
Exactly what I'm saying. Like most of the time from numerous videos I've seen, you can't even make out a distinct shape. The thing was so massive it really did look like the entire skyline just fell down and started rotating. I can't even begin to imagine if this thing took the same path as the bridge creek moore tornado. That would've been horrific.
Dan you are lucky to be alive. It's crazy how Twistex didn't make it out and they weren't that far behind you and yet you both had tiny cars chasing that day. I know Tim Carl and Paul were in a Cobalt and you was in a Yaris. I can't even begin to imagine chasing a tornado like that in a Yaris, I would've probably shit in my pants. Glad you made it out. You captured some great video, especially on another video I watched when you was racing to get out and Twistex was behind you. You make it out and decide to get out of your car while you still had tornadic winds hitting you and then the hail destroying your car. You got some really good video though and hopefully you chase a little smarter now since you almost died.b nbc
Today is the 11 year anniversary of the El Reno tornado. Never forget. RIP Tim ,Paul, and Carl.
Some of the best tornado footage available online. The multiple vortices hopskipping... very awesome!
Huh?
It's almost like the multiple vortices that form and dissipate when the tornado is first touching down pull the entire wall cloud down from above.
Imagine an entire cloud becoming a violent, angry tornado spinning at 300mph. Insane.
It’s scary to see something like this and this large just forming over you. You don’t know where it starts because of its size. It could be forming somewhere completely far away or right above you.
I can't wait to see 4k tornado footage. Experts are saying they learn far more from 4k tornado footage than 'HD' 1080p stuff. Because the 4k camera sensors capture so much more detail. This dude is freaking lucky to be alive. Highly experienced chasers got consumed by this thing but he got out (barely).
too bad youtube has very bad compression
Wow the tornado splits and the smaller tornado goes into the cloud
That tornado was 2.6 miles in diameter, on the ground for 40 minutes and traveled 16.2 miles. I remember this tornado because it was on my birthday and I remember being so worried about a family member.
0:07 that's the same iconic lightning bolt that shoots out of the tornado in Pecos Hank's video
el reno had a one mile wide ef5 tornado in 2011 that picked up a 1.9 million pound oil derrick and rolled it at least 3 times. the 2011 el reno tornado had wind speeds recorded at 280 mph and the 2.6 mile wide tornado in 2013 had even higher wind speeds recorded at 296 mph.
Actually it was 302
@@Ohg665 it was 296 the 1999 Moore had 302 mph
Lmao the popping sound is so relaxing
Tornado ASMR
Yes.
The beginning of this video/the tornado is insane. So mesmerizingly terrifying.
Chasers: *Waiting for what looked like one or two tornadoes to drop*
Mother Nature: Have the whole mesocyclone instead!
This came within a few miles of my house. I lived on E Elm St, not far from Rte 66. The hail was massive. It was a terrifying day.
Great footage but sounds like someone is eating a bag of Doritos next to the microphone for the first couple minutes
Some day, I'd like to see the unedited version of footage from this event
Dan, wasn't Tim Samaras behind you?
when you escaped
Dan doesn't talk about the loss of his friends that day. Please respect that.
According to the documentary "Inside the Mega Twister" where it showed Dan Crossing Hwy 81, continuing east, it also showed that behind Dan was Team twistex. Both of them were trying to outrun it, but one the multiple vortices were on top of them. Dan's dashcam of this shows how powerful and difficult it was to escape it.
Great camera work!
7:36 is that twistX?
The twistX team were 1 mile away from Dan
That's his own car
At least you’re not dead from the EF5 2.6 mile vortex tornado
Man living on the east coast I sometimes forget that places like this even exist in the U.S. lol. I'm not used to my nearest neighbor being 10 miles away
It was not an EF5 but otherwise, this is an excellent video. Love how it's quiet, too!
It was
@@Skillz1023I’m not trying to say that I’m smarter than you but the. Damage makes it a ef3
at the time it was still rated as an ef5
the creator just didnt bother to change it i guess
dangit! i could have watched that rotation at 4:09 for just a few more minutes!
He chased that tornado on foot.
Wow that was amazing, did he get knocked down towards the end?
Don't think so. He had to abandon his truck, and take shelter from the tornado in a ditch--ditches are safer, than vehicle's. A car or truck is the worst place to get caught in a tornado! Tim Samaras, Carl Young, and Tim's son, were overtaken by this tornado in a small white Chevy Cobalt car. Afterwards, Tim was found still strapped in this car by his seatbelt, while the other two were both thrown/carried a half a mile away from where the car landed. Their car looked like a piece of scrap metal. It was horrific.
Seatbelts are your worst nightmare in a tornado
Seatbelts are not your worst nightmare in any scenerio. If you're trapped in your car in a tornado, you're better off with the seatbelt than without it. Seatbelts are _always_ good unless you need to escape the vehicle. Cars are designed to be safe from impacts and rolls.... Only if you're sitting right with a seatbelt. Though nothing is going to save you if you get picked up or tossed around by 250+ winds.
I dont see how storm chasers are so calm. I would have been screaming lol
El Reno was not officially an EF5. The NWS officially rated it an EF3 after the damage survey. However, if this tornado had struck in the time of the F scale, it would indeed be a F5. It most likely would have been an EF5 of it were to (Unfortunately) hit a town (In this case, El Reno)
It seems crazy that this tornado was only given an EF-3 rating. RIP Team Twistex.
Hi Dan, I came across your blog on Storm Highway talking about your close encounter with the 2.6 mile wide Tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma and I got a few questions to ask you. While I was reading about your experience, I found something very interesting.
(I'm so sorry if you got so many questions like this!) You said after the storm blew over, you were not aware about the twistex team's fate during the time. But while you were reviewing the footage on one of your cameras (I think it was your back camera?), you got the colbalt on film while both you and the Twistex team were going on Reuter Rd & Highway 81. [Question #1]: I'm not asking for you to give me the footage because that would be very disrespectful to the families and friends who knew Tim and his crew.
I'm just going to ask if you could possibly tell me some details about if you saw the mistake they made and if you heard their conversation during their final moments? Once again, I am sorry if you got Millions of questions like #1 it's just that my friend's and I were inspired by Twistex so now I want to do some research about what went wrong during the time. [Question #2]: Did you see the Native American legend "The Dead Man Walking" or something similar to the one seen in Jarrel, TX in the year 1997?
[Final Question]: Were there any reports of damage to buildings from the tornado? I'm just asking because I'm still in denial about the [cough][cough] "Official" [cough] rating calling it an "EF3".
I understand if you don't want to answer #1, #2, or #3 and you don't have to and yes I know I'm way to young for my age to be a weather enthusiast lol.
Please respond if possible.
-Helix
Dan does not speak about the loss of his friends that day- please understand and respect that.
You can find the answers to your questions online from other chasers who were there. I suggest that approach if you really want to know and understand this tornado and what happened that day. This tornado changed the spotting and chasing world forever.
is it just me that's amazed at how dark the sky is?
The clouds are beautiful
And yet, the NWS only grades it an EF-3 because it had started dissipating when it came in contact with an urban area. This was absolutely an EF-5: 2.6 miles wide, a bear's cage that extended for miles in all directions with inflow that was heavily restricting vehicles over a mile away from escaping, 300 mph winds at its peak, incredibly violent with some of the least predictable behavior ever seen, and the most scientifically analyzed tornado in history.
Also, incredible footage!
As a Brit I’ve never actually seen a hurricane in real life… nor do I want to… keep your tórnanos America
there are plenty of tornadoes in britan, they just don't get that big
blob blep a hurricane is different then a regular ol tornado
Hurricane?
That is the textbook definition of a monster right there
Can see the Twistex car briefly in the side mirror at 4:45
😮
Rain wrapped, unpredictable speed, changes in direction, massive increase in size. This tornado was born to be a killer.
That cracking noise is relaxing
ASMR! I love it!
Why so many watermarks? It impacts the viewing experience heavily. I get the ones in the corners, but another one right in the middle?.. 🤦♂️
people actually died here and this guy barely escaped
if a network wants it, they can afford to pay.