Is 2010 the most photogenic tornado year to-date?

Although this is only my 3rd year of chasing, I must say that this year will definately be one of my more memorable years. So far up to 26 tornadoes, including some amazingly photogenic tornadoes, such as this one near Spearman, TX on May 24:

4637346955_4fdd3e35f1.jpg
 
2004 was way better. You got photogenic tornadoes and a lot of strong tornadoes. No comparison IMO. It will be tough to ever beat 2004. It doesn't help that I have sucked something fierce this year though.
 
2010 has completely blown away every year I have chased. In 2004 I hadn't ventured out to the plains yet, and I don't know the full spectrum of what that year did other than a few key events. If others say 2010 hasn't reached it yet that surprised me, that must have been one hell of a year.

I mean, if that Campo, CO storm wasn't a complete gift from god I don't know what is.
 
I admit, 2004 was amazing and I saw more tornados that trip than I've ever seen in any other chase vacation. I joked that I saw more tornados than stops at gas stations that year. And my receipts actually back that hyperbole up ;).

I think 2010 has been better for a lot of reasons, but mostly the structure and the framing of the tornado photos (Greg's and Skip's exceptions noted from 2004). Marcus's photo above is incredible and was a lesser-known storm of this year.

I should also clarify that there are incredible tornado photos every year (even in 2009 which sucked, the WY tornado was pretty spectacular), but I wanted to see how people responded to my OP. As one who chases a very finite period annually, this year has been better than 2004 for me, and that likely jades my thoughts. :)
 
May 22, 2004 was a big day for tornadoes and one I will never forget. The sirens in town literally went off 2-3 times before 6:00 PM and another time after midnight. That day produced many tornadoes in Iowa and a bow echo that had winds over 100 MPH in Iowa. I remember seeing some photogenic tornadoes from that day and the Hallam, Nebraska tornado was huge. I don't even know if 2004 was the best year but it has to be in the top ten since chasing became popular.
 
These dates are from 2003 and 2004. So far I don't see 2010 coming close for number of tornadoes in a year. We have had a lot of events but not a lot of big wide spread events. Most of the events seem localized to a certain area. For 2003 and 2004 there was many wide spread big events offering a lot more photo oppurtunities.

- Largest September tornado outbreak – 101 on Sept 5-8, 2004 (Hurricane Frances)
- Largest June tornado outbreak – 95 on June 24, 2003 (South Dakota’s largest outbreak)
- Largest “extended” tornado outbreak – 336 tornadoes in 9 days, May 3-11, 2003
- Most tornadoes in a year – 1819 in 2004
- Most tornadoes in a month – 543 in May 2003
- 6 additional monthly tornado records: 148 in February 2008; 179 in August 2004; 297 in September 2004; 117 in October 2001; 150 in November 2004 and 2005; 99 in December 2002
- Most tornadoes from a tropical cyclone – 127 from Hurricane Ivan in 2004
- Most tornadoes in a season from tropical cyclones – 339 in 2004 (Ivan 127; Frances 106; Jeanne 42; Charley 25; Gaston 20; Bonnie 18; Matthew 1)
- Widest tornado – 2.5 miles in the F4 tornado at Hallam, NE on May 22, 2004


The top 6 states for tornadoes in 2003:
Texas: 154
Illinois: 119
Kansas: 92
Nebraska: 81
South Dakota: 81
Missouri: 80

The top 6 states for tornadoes in 2004:
Texas: 178
Kansas: 124
Iowa: 120
Nebraska: 111
Florida: 104
Colorado: 84
 
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Hi,

Yes there have been some very nice tornadoes and for those that came for short bursts at least you had opportunities to chase and perhaps get a tornado or two. But I agree there are others years that easily surpass 2010 for those who have chased in the past. Tin tornado numbers, this year is my second best as I have suggested in another thread. My best year was 2004 but 2001 was also awesome given my friend David and I chased the White Deer tornado. That ranks as my best tornado experience ever!

Putting things in perspective, if I could wind back the clock, I would kill to have a shot at the June 2 to June 9 1995 storm chasing period. From photogenic supercells and tornadoes as well as wedge fest, wall clouds to the ground, mile wide wedge and a couple of F5's, that year imo from a chaser perspective is up there with the best - almost sacred. Even Vortex 1 was able to get valuable data during that week!

Anyway, each year has its own surprises and disappointments and this year had its fare share. But I just love coming to the great plains as it removes from the sanity of missing variables of Australian storm chasing! A few chasers in our group chased for the first time and really got to see first hand no matter what is thrown at them in Australia, Tornado Alley is at another level in storm chasing - the real deal!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
 
IMO 2004 had the most 'photogenic tornadoes'; lots of incredible setups with crawling, cyclic tornadic supercells. 2004 was awesome, but 2003 was my favorite; it seemed to be a violent stovepipe/wedge fest from April-June.

Simon
 
I'll date myself: 1991 was the year

3/21 Ada OK, Caney OK
3/26 NC OK, Hutchinson KS
4/2 NW OK
4/12 Near Enid OK (my top chase ever)
4/26 I-35 corridor outbreak (Wichita-Andover, Winfield, KS; Red Rock, Oologah, OK)
5/10 Lazbuddie TX
5/11 Campo #1 (see my avatar)
5/15 Laverne OK
5/16 Wichita #2, Catoosa OK
5/26 Woodward OK, El Dorado KS tornado-fest
5/29 TX PH

This is probably not an inclusive list.
 
I'm not qualified to judge a most photogenic year, but want to remind all that 2010 early on featured the January 21 tornado in Huntsville, AL, that was widely video'd and photographed. Since we seldom see storms that are classically structured here, let alone followed by a dry line that allows both back viewing and sunset lighting, this one opened the door--almost literally, for me, as I went through it, lost three trees but no damage.

It doesn't begin to compare to the Colorado and South Dakota shows we've been watching, but it was photogenic for these parts.

Here's three minutes of stills assembled by a guy on Youtube. Warning: antique fire siren gets old quickly, lowering volume may improve the viewing experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW0O6sDsbyQ&feature=player_embedded#!
 
Certainly from my perspective, 2010 has been the most photogenic year for tornadoes, based solely on the May 31 Campo event! However, there have been plenty of other photogenic storms over the years, which I have got to see.

E.g. the derecho in OK on May 27th 2001; the supercell near Buffalo, SD, May 20th 2005; Hill City supercell, May 22 2007, to name but a few.
 
I have so missed having great photogenic tornado opportunities that this year has finally provided for me. May 10th was great for video but the 24th was just incredible eye candy with awesome structure and a well behaved, long lasting tornado with a dry RFD. Campo looks to be in a class by itself, congrats to those who were on it...wish I was there.

I agree that 2004 had the most photogenic storms with tornados. How I wish I had the equipment then that I have now...especially the June 10th Redcloud Nebraska evening supercell with a tornado. The May 12th Attica meso was also jaw dropping, even without a wedge tornado. 3 tornado's on the ground at the same time on the 24th of May...yeah that was cool too. Mulvane...well that is also in a class by itself.

I saw something like 20 tornados during the 3 days of May in 08 but nothing photogenic. I love being in somewhat close to tornado's but the best shots in my opinion usually come from afar. After seeing Bill Harks May24th shot this year, I am having mixed feeling about being at a further vantage point and not moving in closer to watch it cross the road. Oh to be in two places at the same time...just glad that everybody shares their incredible photos with the rest of us!!

Lets hope that this year continues!!
 
Every year has photogenic tornadoes somewhere in the plains. With the exception of maybe 5/31 Colorado (which admittedly was about as good as you can get photo-wise) combined with maybe the SD outbreak, I don't think anything else this year was "more photogenic" than previous years. And I wouldn't use 5/31 Colorado alone to decide that...there have been some much bigger years in the past with photogenic tornadoes.
 
Still liking 2010--let's take a looksy at the amazing LP tornadic cell yesterday close to Last Chance, CO....

Greg's 1991 year is hard for me to say: that was a year or two before I started chasing.

I have to admit, Greg, I had no idea that your avatar photo was from Campo. That's amazing: I'd assumed that was the Pampa, TX, tornado that hit the rose farm. Before this year, I couldn't have told you where Campo was on a map of SE CO. Now I know it's a breeding ground for (rare) amazing tornados.
 
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