Tornado tracks in Google Earth Timelapse

[Dan Robinson]

Google just released a cool feature where you can loop satellite imagery of anywhere on earth from the late 1980s through today. Here are a couple of examples showing tornado damage tracks:

Moore, OK 1999 and 2013 F5s
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=35.33931,-97.51254,11.963,latLng&t=1.90

Joplin
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=37.07079,-94.48997,11.058,latLng&t=0.12

Phil Campbell, AL - multiple 2011 sig tor tracks visible in the area
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=34.352,-87.71007,7.956,latLng&t=1.35

Here is the main page for the timelapse feature - you can search for anywhere on earth:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/

 

[Jeremy Perez]

Thanks for the heads-up, Dan—this is great! Here is from the Arizona outbreak and the set of tracks west of Flagstaff from 6 October 2010:

https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=35.17322,-111.82858,10.044,latLng&t=0.00

I've wanted to pick out the full extent of some of the narrower/smaller tracks from that day, but hard to tell in some areas without the before/after. This is perfect.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Here are more historical sig tor tracks. These are the ones that are easily seen. I was surprised of ones that were not very visible (Andover, Red Rock, Hesston, etc)

Plainfield, IL 1990:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=41.61442,-88.20242,11.375,latLng&t=0.80

La Plata, MD 2002:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=38.51984,-76.9578,11.1,latLng&t=1.90

Niles, OH - Wheatland, PA 1985:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=41.19259,-80.61582,10.688,latLng&t=0.00

Tuscaloosa, AL 2000 and 2011:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=33.26176,-87.3677,9.616,latLng&t=2.80

Hoisington, KS 2001:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=38.51777,-98.76779,11.973,latLng&t=1.70

Raleigh, NC 1988:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=35.86874,-78.68831,11.511,latLng&t=0.50

Evansville, IN 2005:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=37.9617,-87.42169,11.925,latLng&t=2.10

Gallatin, TN 2006:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=36.36703,-86.45327,11.788,latLng&t=2.20

Henryville, IN 2012:
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=38.52851,-85.80309,11.669,latLng&t=2.60

 

[Ryan Toemmes]

This is great stuff Dan,

Looking at this stuff all day today...

Do you happen to have the 1997 Jarrell Texas EF5 model track ?


Information, Education, Support & Advanced Warning... [emoji519] 7 Plus Device...

 

[Dan Robinson]

I looked for Jarrell, but I couldn't see an obvious path. That one surprised me too.

I realized I didn't include the link to the main Timelapse page - you can search for anywhere on earth with this:

https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/

 

[Todd Lemery]

Lakewood Wisconsin on June 7th 2007. This EF-3 was on the ground for 40 miles. I was on the storm, but with a lot of hills and a tall tree canopy, I never saw a thing. As a matter of fact, I've tried to find video of this twister with no luck. Such is the life of storm chasing in the North woods....

 

[Joey Ketcham]

What happened to the one of Joplin, MO? I'm 100% sure that Joplin, MO was on that list as I was looking at it yesterday.

 

[Ryan Toemmes]

Dan,

I found what I could on the Jarrell Texas F5 Tornado... May 27, 1997 ~ Google Earth ~

SPC / NWS Mapping Feature with images...














Information, Education, Support & Advanced Warning... [emoji519] 7 Plus Device...

 

[Ryan Toemmes]

~ Jarrell Texas ~ May 27, 1997 ~

The F5 Tornado traveled 5 - 8 MPH on a slow track SSW highly usual for a massive powerful Tornado to do...











Information, Education, Support & Advanced Warning... [emoji519] 7 Plus Device...

 

[Ryan Toemmes]

The Jarrell City Center Memorial Park...

On this site on May 27, 1997 where the ground was scoured over 1 foot deep and asphalt was peeled off the surface of the earth...










Information, Education, Support & Advanced Warning... [emoji519] 7 Plus Device...

 

[Matt Hillburn]

That is incredible. Unforgettable really. I have a guy that lived not to far away from where this tornado passed thru. No wonder he works for me, lol.

http://www.tornadoshelter.com

 

[Ryan Toemmes]

Information, Education, Support & Advanced Warning... [emoji519] 7 Plus Device...

 

[James Wilson]

It's amazing that Tuscaloosa is STILL visible along the track 5 years later.