This rare and historical footage from 1986 was a great inspiration to early storm chasers, who could only imagine finding that kind of prize in our annual chases each year. And when we missed a good season, we could always recall this event, to send us back out next year and thereafter, until we too found our special storm --the one you never forget. Ever! Thanks, Roy, for taking us back to our roots.
It goes without saying this is still, even 30 years later almost, one of the most spectacular videos of a tornado. This is a tornado with a single suction vortex structure in the utmost perfect conditions to expose the helix structure within a tornado that so often gets obscured by too little moisture and debris or too much of it, and the icing on the cake is the aerial vantage point. Kudos to the pilot and the photographer for this iconic footage. So often we see the portion of this footage where the chopper gets close enough to photograph the condensation vortex on the ground. While that portion is the most spectacular part of this entire piece of footage, it is fascinating to see where the footage began seeing the whole tornado and the fact that there was a spectacular condensation funnel reaching toward the ground.
Thanks for posting the full video. This tornado is by far the coolest tornado because it shows very clearly the vortex breakdown helical vortex and single suction vortex under the breakdown area
I had just moved to Minneapolis a few weeks before this tornado. I also saw it in person on my way to Rosedale Mall in Roseville. It was an incredible sight and my first time seeing a tornado.
The entirety of this footage is a perfect illustration for teaching spotters and the public that just because the condensation funnel reaching down from the cloud base is not fully connected to the ground that it doesn't mean there is not a tornado in progress (circulation on the ground and causing damage) as opposed to a funnel cloud (circulation restricted to just above ground level.
This is the most amazing twister video ever , it's almost hypnotic . Imagine a video like this in 2017. You can clearly see the exact spot where stuff really gets sucked up its just amazing .
I've been looking for this footage for years, I'm so glad I found your video. A bf of mine had very very clear memories of seeing this tornado from a distance as a 6 year old kid and talks about it often. He tried to describe it and even said he couldn't do it justice. This video clearly shows he was right. It's amazing and beautiful and really haunting. Thank you for uploading this.
I think thi is the only uncut copy of this tornado video. So many thanks for sharing. And not putting your logo on the screen (even though you deserve it ;) )
