David Williams
EF4
MODs: not sure if this is the right place for this discussion.
I, like many others, was caught at El Reno rd and highway 81 when the tornado began to expand and turn north. I have been trying to piece together my experience, and I was hoping to get some input from the more experienced chasers and from anyone that had a better view of the storm than I did from right under it. After waiting my turn to go south from El Reno rd onto 81 I was only able to drive for 10 or 15 seconds before I noticed through the rain a large vortice moving ne toward me from only a few hundred feet away. I, and the other drivers/chasers around me, quickly put on the brakes and went in reverse to let the vortice pass in front of us (I'm not sure if this is the same vortice that hit the Tornado Hunter vehicle but I did notice the next day when I drove through the damage path that he was very close to my position at that time.) Many of the other vehicles stopped after the vortice passed in front of us on the road. However, recognizing the transparent rain bands/condensing tornadic circulation and debris in the air I knew we weren't done with the tornado yet. So, I drove south as fast as I could. I passed a parked police car and what looked like a Dominator; however, I couldn't look too closely because a power line was down in front of me and I had to drive into the median to get under it. With the highway clear, I blasted south. Unfortunately, I also got blasted by some intense wind from the west. In a matter of moments debris was flying across the road and my windows were blown out. Fortunately, I made it out of the RFD after about a 1/2 mile with only a scratch on my cheek.
So, my question is where did the tornadic circulation end and the RFD begin? I understand that this question may not be accurately answered because of the nature of this rare beast. But, I am trying to wrap my head around what happened. I clearly got caught inside the tornado at El Reno and 81 because this is the exact time when the tornado expanded and made its northern turn. Also, I had to reverse (move north into the larger tornado) in order to avoid getting hit by a large vortice. The wind was strong during that time; however, it wasn't until I passed the cop car and downed power line that the wind started really moving (granted I was able to accelerate faster but the force was a noticeable increase from the west) and this is when the debris very much like Brandon and Brett drove through started flying across 81. Anyone that drove 81 that day or the next would have noticed the mile or more of debris caught in the fence and rail guard along the road.I have watched many of the videos in the reports section, and many videos show what looks to be a clear slot far south of the tornadic circulation. Anyone with any feedback, ideas, or stories please chip in.
I, like many others, was caught at El Reno rd and highway 81 when the tornado began to expand and turn north. I have been trying to piece together my experience, and I was hoping to get some input from the more experienced chasers and from anyone that had a better view of the storm than I did from right under it. After waiting my turn to go south from El Reno rd onto 81 I was only able to drive for 10 or 15 seconds before I noticed through the rain a large vortice moving ne toward me from only a few hundred feet away. I, and the other drivers/chasers around me, quickly put on the brakes and went in reverse to let the vortice pass in front of us (I'm not sure if this is the same vortice that hit the Tornado Hunter vehicle but I did notice the next day when I drove through the damage path that he was very close to my position at that time.) Many of the other vehicles stopped after the vortice passed in front of us on the road. However, recognizing the transparent rain bands/condensing tornadic circulation and debris in the air I knew we weren't done with the tornado yet. So, I drove south as fast as I could. I passed a parked police car and what looked like a Dominator; however, I couldn't look too closely because a power line was down in front of me and I had to drive into the median to get under it. With the highway clear, I blasted south. Unfortunately, I also got blasted by some intense wind from the west. In a matter of moments debris was flying across the road and my windows were blown out. Fortunately, I made it out of the RFD after about a 1/2 mile with only a scratch on my cheek.
So, my question is where did the tornadic circulation end and the RFD begin? I understand that this question may not be accurately answered because of the nature of this rare beast. But, I am trying to wrap my head around what happened. I clearly got caught inside the tornado at El Reno and 81 because this is the exact time when the tornado expanded and made its northern turn. Also, I had to reverse (move north into the larger tornado) in order to avoid getting hit by a large vortice. The wind was strong during that time; however, it wasn't until I passed the cop car and downed power line that the wind started really moving (granted I was able to accelerate faster but the force was a noticeable increase from the west) and this is when the debris very much like Brandon and Brett drove through started flying across 81. Anyone that drove 81 that day or the next would have noticed the mile or more of debris caught in the fence and rail guard along the road.I have watched many of the videos in the reports section, and many videos show what looks to be a clear slot far south of the tornadic circulation. Anyone with any feedback, ideas, or stories please chip in.