EL RENO, Okla. – It was one year ago Saturday.
Twenty two Oklahomans lost their lives in the El Reno tornado.
A tragedy struck so soon after the May 19th and 20th outbreak.
Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan spoke about it one year later.
“Here comes May 31st – I had never seen anything like this tornado in my entire life. It was essentially like an atomic bomb the instability was so great that afternoon.”
Many things setting this tornado apart.
“Its immense size, not only the visible tornado but it extended out beyond that. The large velocity of high winds and the storm accelerated, made a 90 degree turn, lifted and accelerated again,” said Morgan.
Storm Chaser Reed Timmer in Dominator 4 was on the front lines.
Morgan said his video illustrates the power of the twister.
“You can see the power of this tornado in its formative stages. Multiple vortex, rapidly spinning. Strong vertical velocities in the upper direction – the sucking power of the tornado and then the expansiveness of it and how quickly it changed shape,” said Morgan.
“From satellite from 20,000 miles in space you could clearly see a scar left behind by that tornado,” said Morgan.
On top of whirling winds, a second slam from mother nature.
“Here’s the most violent tornado in recorded earth history. Then you combine that with rainfall totals 8 to 10 inches concentrated over a metro area the result is catastrophic flash flooding,” said Morgan.
