Alabama tornado video

[Chris Hayes]

This was posted on Wx-Chase so I imagine a lot of you have seen this, but this is really good tornado video from Alabama. It was caught on a security camera, and it shows the tornado tossing cars about. Enjoy! :)

http://www.whnt.com/Global/category.asp?C=6018&nav=menu108_1

[Eric Flescher]

I heard about the tornado but seeing it on video was awesome. You can clearly see the winds picking up cars and within 5 seconds they are being tossed. Just think how far an EF-5 would toss cars.
Nice footage thanks for sharing.
::
This was posted on Wx-Chase so I imagine a lot of you have seen this, but this is really good tornado video from Alabama. It was caught on a security camera, and it shows the tornado tossing cars about. Enjoy! :)

http://www.whnt.com/Global/category.asp?C=6018&nav=menu108_1

[Shane Adams]

I think we have a new #1 best tornado video of all-time. That surpasses even the '86 MN copter video IMO. That's the best example of tornadic winds I've ever seen on tape; shows how quick it was there and gone, how localized the violent winds were, and how incredibly narrow the tornadic path was.

I've gotten to the point now, as a chaser, where I'm far more interested in capturing tornado video than watching others', but this is absolutely incredible. It's always been kinda funny how the best tornado videos are never from chasers.

[D. Hayes]

Wow simply one of the coolest videos. From all the other videos I've seen this one actually expresses how fast these tornadoes can move. So....When in doubt seek shelter out!

[Mark Sudduth]

Ok, that looked like a fairly small vortex on the ground, have no idea what it looked like from say 200 yards away or more but it sure seemed small and tight.

That being said, and seeing how those cars were SO EASILY picked up and tossed, what does this say about the TIV and its chances of surviving something similar? I would hate to see someone like Sean and crew hurt but seeing this video makes me really wonder how safe they would be had that been right over them.

Lastly- is it possible using the frames of the video (photogrametry if I spelled it correctly) and the motions of the cars to estimate wind speeds in this tornado?

[J Kinkaid]

I wonder how much the tv station paid for that video :)

[Eric Flescher]

Shane
Is there a link to that MN video for us to see?

I am thinking that via Bernoulli's principle force that the cars got lifted off by the winds under the chasee and around the tires more then being pushed by the car from the back? I mean those two cars really got a tuble and the tornado was only EF-2.
right wrong both?

::
I think we have a new #1 best tornado video of all-time. That surpasses even the '86 MN copter video IMO. That's the best example of tornadic winds I've ever seen on tape; shows how quick it was there and gone, how localized the violent winds were, and how incredibly narrow the tornadic path was.

I've gotten to the point now, as a chaser, where I'm far more interested in capturing tornado video than watching others', but this is absolutely incredible. It's always been kinda funny how the best tornado videos are never from chasers.

[Gerard Jebaily]

WOW!:eek: The fact that it just streight up lifts them is whats so incredible.

[Dave Gallaher]

Would you guess a storm motion of about 40mph? It is definitely a very small drillbit at the bottom--wish we had some video from further back to go with it.

Interesting juxtaposition to get this and Jim Reed's on-foot insertion on the same day...

[Chris Foltz]

Here's a link to the '86 MN tornado Shane referenced...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ekVcUhr56sY&feature=related

[Alan Broerse]

That Alabama tornado was the most awesome piece I've seen in years. Just guessing with the motion and intense winds.....maybe 50 ft-60 ft wide?.....160-180 mph.?......any engineers want to calculate it???? We will be seeing this film for years.......great training film for discouraging sheltering in a car during a tornado. I would like to see the entire film clip.

[Eric Tourangeau]

Question... The way the cars are lifted, is it possible that it's more the pressure difference than the wind that lift them?

I'm more photographer than scientist, sorry if my question is stupid. But I don't see winds pushing cars in that video.

[joel ewing]

Yeah, if this vid doesn't get the point across as to how wicked these tornadic winds can are.....then nothing will.
IMO, it's too bad that there was no accompanying audio. I'll bet this entire scene sounded absolutely SICK!
That's the problem with too many chaser's videos...especially the ones made in recent years. There are some fantastic videos out there...but too many guys (and yes, gals are guilty too) that have pretty much ruined their vids with yelling, screaming and showboating for the camera.
I won't try to speak for all chasers..that would be moronic. But I have met many over the years..and I'd wager my mortgage payment that most of us would just kill for some wild, outstanding tornadic video that showed close, violent action...coupled with the insane sounds that co-incide with the video. Just the ambient sounds.....without any chaser's verbal input.
Can I get a witness??
Like most years...my chase season begins in June. Perhaps I will be the guy who reels in what I'm talking about...the perfect vid with un-interrupted sound. Lord knows I'm game. Bring it on !! Joel in Tucson

[Dann Cianca]

Question... The way the cars are lifted, is it possible that it's more the pressure difference than the wind that lift them?

I'm more photographer than scientist, sorry if my question is stupid. But I don't see winds pushing cars in that video.

Not a stupid question, Eric. Wind is a physical manifestation of pressure difference! :)

[Aaron Kennedy]

Wind is a physical manifestation of horizontal pressure difference which is perpendicularto the gravity vector. We're interested in the vertical pressure gradient force. I'm honestly unsure of what this is in the surface layer. Just thinking about it however, it would take an absurd pressure difference to lift a several thousand pound vehicle in the absence of wind. Keep in mind, however, pressure differences can be caused by wind (think of how aircraft fly).

[Dave Gallaher]

It's interesting how the two sedans are picked up and clapped together. I would assume that this is due to the rear ends of the vehicles being lighter than the fronts, but they are thrown toward each other first, then dropped and blown toward the road. Can't do a frame-by-frame, but quick pause action reveals the two rear ends lifting toward a central point. Yet vehicles on the side of them away from the vortex don't seem to move much while the pickup blows airborne across the road.

There is a second security cam view on the site now, a little farther away, but not much help in revealing storm detail.

[Jason Harris]

Sam Sagnella had the storm report attached in the DISC thread, but here it is again, since we should all be on the same page that this tornado was estimated at 125 mph:

--
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
541 PM CDT FRI MAY 9 2008

..PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY INFORMATION ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA

A PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY OF THE DAMAGE INCURRED ACROSS NORTHEAST
COLBERT...EASTERN LAUDERDALE...AND EXTREME NORTHWEST LAWRENCE
COUNTIES /ALABAMA/ HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
AND COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL. THE EVENT OCCURRED
THURSDAY...MAY 8 2008. INITIAL FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

* EVENT: TORNADO

* LOCATION: LEIGHTON TO ROGERSVILLE, ALABAMA

* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 125.0 MPH
* PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-2

* PATH LENGTH: 9.6 MILES
* MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 250 YARDS

* SUMMARY: SURVEILLANCE CAMERA FROM AN EQUIPMENT COMPANY NORTHEAST
OF LEIGHTON CAPTURED A TORNADO PICKING UP AT LEAST 2 CARS AND
THROWING THEM NEARLY 40 FEET. LARGE TREES WERE SNAPPED AND
UPROOTED NEAR FOSTERS MILL...ALONG COUNTY ROAD 40. JUST TO THE
NORTHEAST OF FOSTERS MILL...SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
OCCURRED AT THE DOUBLEHEAD RESORT AND LODGE. A 2-STORY HOUSE WAS
COMPLETELY LIFTED OFF ITS FOUNDATION AND MOVED NEARLY 20 FEET.
THE ENTIRE WEST-FACING SIDE OF THIS HOUSE WAS RIPPED OFF ALONG
WITH SIGNIFICANT ROOF DAMAGE. ADDITIONAL SPORADIC DAMAGE
OCCURRED TO A GARAGE AND OTHER LARGE TREES FROM JOE WHEELER
STATE PARK TO ROGERSVILLE.

THESE FINDINGS ARE PRELIMINARY AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
PICTURES AND SUMMARY MATERIALS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB
PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE /ALL LOWER CASE/.

SURVEYED BY: NADLER/LATIMER

----

So . . . would someone have been better off staying in that car and getting slammed (but wearing a seatbelt and airbags) or getting out and risk having debris (including the car) knocked into one? I know the official line is to not stay in your car, and the weather commentator said as much from the news channel, but I wonder what veteran chasers and metereologists really think about this when it comes to calling a particular action for a particular storm.

Also, how would this compare with the effect of a straight-line wind event of 125 (including a hurricane)? Is a swirling column of wind at 125 mph better suited towards tossing cars?

[John Peters]

Shane
Is there a link to that MN video for us to see?

I am thinking that via Bernoulli's principle force that the cars got lifted off by the winds under the chasee and around the tires more then being pushed by the car from the back? I mean those two cars really got a tuble and the tornado was only EF-2.
right wrong both?

::

bernoulii's principle would entail a lower pressure above the vehicle than below due to faster fluid (air) velocities above the vehicle. I too wonder if this is at least partially responsible for vertical motion during tornadoes.

[Jerry Prsha]

That being said, and seeing how those cars were SO EASILY picked up and tossed, what does this say about the TIV and its chances of surviving something similar? I would hate to see someone like Sean and crew hurt but seeing this video makes me really wonder how safe they would be had that been right over them.

I agree with this idea. I keep thinking that the TIV is a "Darwin Award" waiting to happen. Train cars getting knocked down by wind should be a good clue.

I don't like the thought of anyone getting hurt and hopefully this video will teach a lesson in humility... But I doubt it will be viewed that way or any lessons learned...

[Darrin Rasberry]

Surprised this one wasn't posted yet. Watch the trash bin at 00:30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPoHb1nPGlk