“How many tornadoes have you seen, George?” is a popular question from school kids and civic groups after I give a weather presentation.
I witnessed my first tornado in 1997, and I’ve seen at least one tornado each year since 2003. But the Central Oklahoma tornado outbreak of May 24, 2008 broke all sorts of my personal records: most tornadoes on the ground at once, most tornadoes from one storm; largest tornado-- that is if I kept detailed records of such!
The one storm pictured below produced at least 6-8 separate tornadoes; the actual number is probably closer to a dozen or more as small, short-lived tornadoes were also spotted but not photographed.
So my answer to the above question is still “I don’t know!”
Enjoy the below pictures below from my chase crew: George & Shyla Flickinger and Dan Lockhoff.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO AND MORE PICS OF THIS CHASE.
(above) “Red dirt road tornado” emerged out of the rain about 1 mile away and headed toward Storm Chaser 2.
The tornado looked impressive for a few minutes, but dissipated before we had to relocate.
Dan Lockhoff (pictured) and my wife joined me on the chase. Another tornado has formed beyond the hill crest.
I accidently timed this picture perfectly to capture the lightning strike. Oh yeah, this view is looking into a near 1 mile wide tornado which tracked on the ground for about one hour!
This entire picture is a wide tornado! Smaller tornado vorticies, including at least one in the middle left, are visible. Rain curtains are wrapping from left to right around the main circulation.
One obvious tornado with a second tornado in the distant left background.
Though still dangerous, “Wizard of Oz” looking tornadoes are more picturesque compared to the huge, fat-looking tornadoes.
Tornadoes can take on weird shapes as they weaken and rope out. This one was visible from Interstate 35.
Another large tornado from the same storm. This huge tornado tracked south of Perry in Noble county. We chased the storms eastward into the 2NEWS viewing area, but fortunately they weakened.
Special thanks to Dan Threlkeld, Julie Chin and George Waldenberger and John Hollingshead.