2013-05-27 MISC: KS

[Deleted member 2911]

Well according to this video Sean Casey drove the TIV into it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LobCDYO78Us

 

[Brian McKibben]

This is video from Sean Casey and the TIV2 as they got hit by the Smith Center wedge. I have pasted their description from youtube below. It is a very interesting look at the inside of a large strong/violent tornado.

It got very dark inside the tornado as one would expect. It is remarkable watching the winds change direction toward the end, quite impressive. It looks like the were facing toward the north. Luckily it doesn't appear as if they got hit by any large debris.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LobCDYO78Us
Watch video >

Brandon Ivey and Sean Casey got inside of a violent wedge tornado today. Brandon shot this insane footage of the TIV2 (tornado intercept vehicle) inside of a violent wedge tornado northeast of Smith Center, Kansas over eastern Smith County.

Wind speeds were 150 to 175 EF3 to EF4 before the tornado ripped the instruments off the top of the TIV.

To license this footage, contacthttp://www.StormChasingVideo.com

 

[Lee Smith-Whaley]

From the sounds of it, they got lucky. Based on what Sean posted on FB the turret door for the camera came open, and a piece of debris came in. Also, if you look at Brandon's footage at around 2:06 something hits the windshield, sparks, and leaves a gouge. Looks like it was an experience though, and can't wait to see the iMax footage.

 

[Jeff Duda]

Also, if you look at Brandon's footage at around 2:06 something hits the windshield, sparks, and leaves a gouge.

I saw that, too. Not totally sure what it was or why it was lit. Was it frictional heating that made it so hot in such a short time/distance it glowed or was it an electrical circuit of some kind that shorted as it hit?

 

[Lee Smith-Whaley]

I saw that, too. Not totally sure what it was or why it was lit. Was it frictional heating that made it so hot in such a short time/distance it glowed or was it an electrical circuit of some kind that shorted as it hit?

According to this interview, there were no power poles nearby. I'm guessing rocks or a piece of metal flying by at 175 MPH.
http://www.kwch.com/kwch-jab-storm-...ide-a-kansas-tornado-20130528,0,6828097.story

EDIT: The video Sean posted this morning on FB shows what appears to be a large gouge across the front window. I wonder if he plans to upgrade those now when he does TIV3.

 

[Brody Flavin]

I spoke with my dad-in-law who is a firefighter in Marysville. He told me he drove into the tornado as it was passing west of town...and continued driving, using the rumble strips to help keep him on the road (I would of slapped him for that, but he's 200 miles away.) He's thinking there were two tornadoes there, not sure why yet, but at any rate it seems most of the town dodged a bullet there.

 

[Andy Wehrle]

I wonder if the same tornado they intercepted is the one that damaged this house 3 NNE Lebanon:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=gid&storyid=94944&source=0

Most reports of the tornado have been that it was "over open terrain," but I could see how they could have missed it hitting one house. Looks like the house was either grazed or hit when the tornado wasn't at peak intensity. This was definitely one of those tornadoes with the potential for massive devastation if it passes through a town.

 

[Andy Wehrle]

Topeka has a preliminary track map out for the Marysville tornado.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=top&storyid=94960&source=0

Looks like EF2 damage at these two businesses. Another case of "we got lucky." The houses just south of the Pony Express Highway at 6th Rd. apparently escaped damage, and the one just east on the north side of the highway experienced only EF0 damage.