Best Multiple Vortex Tornado

[Scott Nelson]

What's that old saying? 2 are better then 1? After rewatching some old footage I realized that more then anything, I'm mesmerized by Multiple Vortex Tornadoes. Maybe it's because I can hardly wrap my brain around how one tornado works - never mind the specific conditions it requires for 3 or 4 whirlwinds to be spinning independent-- yet near each other.

With that said...what do you think has been the best footage of a m.v. tornado caught to date?

 

[Rick Schmidt]

Scott:

A multi-vortex tornado is actually one large tornado with smaller vortices revolving within it. Large tornadoes often begin with the dance of the multiple vortices, but it is considered part of the main rotation within the wall cloud. Researchers are discovering that many, if not most tornadoes have some mult-vortex structure to them. Someone correct me if I am wrong. The best video of one I can think of is from southern Nebraska on March 13, 1990. --Rick

 

[Skip Talbot]

Yes, I'd argue most tornadoes are multivortex. Even the ropes probably have much smaller vortices within them. Those in turn could have even smaller vorticies, in a fractal like structure. To me then a multi vortex tornado has suction vorticies with condensation funnels/debris clouds that are visually separated from the parent tornado circulation. My vote is for the Columbus, NE tornado (crazy farmer). There are aweome condesnation funnels that spin up on the edges of the wedge

 

[Scott Nelson]

Yes. I agree that the internal structure of most tornadoes are actually multi vortex. (Awesome thought isn't it.) I think what I'm driving at with this thread is the storm images/videos that show cells that drop very distinctive individual vortices. Lots of space between each other or maybe circling around a larger cone. Another cool aspect of this kind of storm for me is when you see birdeye images of the post storm swirl patterns on the ground. (Preferably in empty fields.) Think I recall one image in which a barn had at least three close passes by a M.V. storm but was left untouched. That stuff just blows me away. (OK- bad pun.)

OK-- keep your suggestions coming!

 

[Bob Hartig]

I've seen video of some rope-outs where you can actually see a sort of vortex braiding that appears to "unravel" as the tornado dissipates. One good example is the Elie, Manitoba, tornado.

Here's a YouTube link to one of the most impressive multi-vortex videos I've seen. Very cool.

 

[Mike Kovalchick]

I think the infamous Zenia, Ohio F5 multi-vortex is my all time favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA0pez4fURc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAjVYqeb7Mc&feature=related

It was most noteworthy tornado of the April 3-4, 1974 Super outbreak:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Outbreak

 

[Chris Lott]

I wish I could find some video of the beginning stages of the Jarrell,TX tornado. It started out as a multi-vortex before turning into the beast F-5.

 

[Paul Austin]

I've seen video of some rope-outs where you can actually see a sort of vortex braiding that appears to "unravel" as the tornado dissipates. One good example is the Elie, Manitoba, tornado.

Here's a YouTube link to one of the most impressive multi-vortex videos I've seen. Very cool.

Wow! I hadn't seen that particular footage before. It reminds me of the Manchester, SD tornado before entering Manchester. Most of the footage I'd seen of the Elie tornado seemed to have a much higher LCL height. The collar of this meso is almost scraping the ground! Thanks for sharing the link.

My vote would probably be for the crazy farmer Nebraska tornado. I couldn't find the link, but I know it was on YouTube at one time.

 

[Josh Richardson]

My vote is for the Nicollet Tornado from Aug 24,2006. Im pretty sure the video mentioned above by Bob was from the day.

 

[Chris Hayes]

Wow! I hadn't seen that particular footage before. It reminds me of the Manchester, SD tornado before entering Manchester. Most of the footage I'd seen of the Elie tornado seemed to have a much higher LCL height. The collar of this meso is almost scraping the ground! Thanks for sharing the link.

My vote would probably be for the crazy farmer Nebraska tornado. I couldn't find the link, but I know it was on YouTube at one time.

I've heard reference to the crazy farmer nebraska tornado, but I dont know what it is. I've probably seen the video but dont know thats what is being refered to. Anyone have a link to video of this tornado, or when it occured. As for MV tornadoes, I have yet to see really good multi-vortex tornadic structure. The Mulvane tornado had multiple vorticies at times, but we werent in goo position to view them when it was going on. Oh well, it's one of them tornado firsts I'm waiting for, 2 tornadoes plainly visible on the ground at the same time (ala May 15, 2003), along with my first EF-4 or 5.

 

[Scott Weberpal]

The KFOR video from May 3, 1999 is my favorite...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DvoIMvAkQ8

The multiple vortices start around 0:47.

 

[Rick Schmidt]

Here is that Nebraska video I mentioned earlier.---Rick Schmidt


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2GBwDbD1XI

 

[Mike Bennett]

One of my favorites was shot by Howard Bluestein in May 2, 1979 near Orienta,Ok. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX6uBymvKh4

 

[Paul Townsend]

It's not the best one, but another very nice example of widely spaced multiple vorticies is the Plaquemines Parish, LA tornado of 1989, I believe.

I think it was in June sometime.

 

[Nathan Edwards]

This is a pretty nice looking Polish Multivortex tornado from last year. By no means the best but pretty spectacular for Europe!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4CTFHhMpJU