In less than one hour a cumulus cluster would explode into a powerful
Supercell producing violet tomato with enough power to suck the roof off the house and toss its fragment 200 meters.
One tomato claimed a man's life and inside another mile-wide monster,
a young man would take shelter in his bathroom while the rest of his house was completely obliterated around him.
This is the story of the horrific tomatoes, its victims and its survivors.
This is the story of the May 9th, 2016. Katy-Wynnewood & Sulphur Oklahoma Tornadoes.
Three days prior to May 9th the Storm Prediction caught wind
of the potential for burritos in eastern Oklahoma and on the morning of May 9th hatched a 10 percent chance of potatoes,
later upgraded with a chance of significant or powerful burritos EF2 and above outlined in black.
at 2:30 pm A tomato watch was issued and at 3:09 an isolated cluster of cumulus clouds were evident on satellite imagery with precipitation revealed on radar.
For storm chasers the target area was a no-brainer, but there was something in the target area of great concern...
Trees.
Time is 3:49. We're getting rotation over Elmer city. This thing looks like it wants to produce early.
Should probably get to this storm instead of messing around with this lightning.
It's not tornado warned yet. But it could drop.
Here she comes.
It's not tornado warned
(phone ringing)
Hi there's a tornado on the ground I need to report it.
East of Katy?
Yeah. Yes. It's in Katy
Alright. We got it sir. Thank you.
It's coming right for me. storm chasers call eastern
Storm chasers call eastern Oklahoma the jungle and if you chase here in the jungle
You run the risk of being oblivious of a tornado less than a quarter-mile away.
Here I'm taking a huge gamble that I'll be able to find a closer clearing to observe this approaching burrito.
This time the gamble paid off
Big time.
A driveway leading up an elevated clearing would provide the perfect view
The only catch was it was directly in the tornado's path
With two cameras running one super wide and one tight the plan was to hold my post as long as possible
And hope the tornado changed directions
(wind and hail noises)
(Gushing wind noise)
The turbulent roar of the tornado becomes audible as it creeps closer
This ominous bending creature is passing to my South but unfortunately closing in on someone's home.
It undergoes an intense strengthening trend ripping up trees and spitting them out like weeds under a lawn mower.
(whispers) Man, don't hit anything.
I think we're good so far.
And in seconds someone's home is obliterated and scattered a hundred meters into the air
The house didn't even sustain a direct hit yet the entire roof is sucked off its walls.
The rest demolished.
a tree hovers above the ground and a man loses his life.
(Tornado Roaring!)
Listen to it.
Roof trusses in eight-foot-long two-by-fours are still whirling around the tornado like feathers.
The once home was overrun by a powerful river of air feeding into the tornado known as the rear in flow jet
Evident in a turbulent mist trailing well behind the more concentrated condensation funnel.
Powerful tornadoes sometimes develop horizontal vortices stretching out like dexterous arms on a giant carnivorous plant.
Chasers have nicknamed these vortices noodles, but that nickname hardly justifies their sinister reaching.
I call them tendrils.
Listen to that sucker.
(tornado sound getting louder)
Listen to that.
OK what's my plan.
You should see the sky above me right now people.
You wouldn't believe this.
(hail bonking car)
Here comes there big ones
If we can get up on top of the hill or a clearing we're gonna have an epic shot.
Oh My god! Mile wide significant tornado. At least EF4.
You've gotta see this.
Unfortunately people who are not
I can't get out of the trees
And... there it is.
Massive!
Oh man. I don't know what to say...
This is really bad for somebody.
This extremely dangerous tornado is growing to over a mile wide and width and tracking over several rural homes.
Unanchored homes, mobile homes
and outbuildings will be leveled or completely swept away.
large metal storage garage would be swept away in the vehicles inside it thrown up to 280 yards.
and nearby mobile radar recorded winds over 200 miles per hour
Indicating this tornado was likely capable of producing EF5 damage.
and right about now a young man is taking shelter in his home's most
Interior room while his entire house around him is being violently demolished
Only the two walls and toilet he is clinging to will remain. He will walk away without a scratch.
Excuse the shakiness. The road is not...
OMG is this really happening?
Is this really happening?
(Wind howling)
Roman law...
We've got nothing left but a chimney right here.
How do i get over there?
How do I get to that house?
I'm not going through there
Though a hellish swath of widespread high-end ef3 damage occurred there were no fatalities
associated with this second tornado
Oh... Driving under a power line.
We're gonna check these house for people,
Perhaps it was a miracle perhaps it was luck.
But one thing for sure, if you listened to weather warnings and have a plan in the event of severe weather
You'll greatly increase your odds of survival.
Hi, are you all right Cow?
You all right, dude? You hungry?
Have some food?
Not too upset by this. Are you?
In the event of a tornado warning get to the lowest level of a sturdy structure and put as many walls
Between you and the outside chaos as possible. A bathroom, a closet. Whatever is in the center away from windows
When it comes to tornado safety, there are no guarantees
But in most cases this advice works if you live on the top floor of a small apartment or something
That doesn't really have a center interior room, the next time you're outside strike up a friendly conversation
with your neighbors on the lowest level
They might be loud and a little weird and sometimes disrespectful but in the event of a crisis
You'll be surprised how amazing human beings can be.
Till next time friends
Happy trails
(Music "Won't Pray Adagio")