This is a chaotic image because that was a chaotic experience. Even though the “Bell City” tornado was small, it was intensifying and moving almost at us at over 50 mph in straight transnational speed, so we had to get south enough for safety as it crossed the road with a robust, audible whoosh, about 1/2 to 1/3 mile behind us. A strong spray of rain in the proximal rear-flank/occlusion downdraft splattered the lens covering faster than I could shoot, or even try to wipe it. Yet I think that adds character and realism to the scene. It reminded me a lot of three other relatively close tornado-highway crossings to my near north: visually similar to the Winchester, IL event in 1996, nearly as wet as the much stronger Sulphur, OK tornado in 2016, and also resembling Wapanucka, OK in 2020, the latter being smaller and weaker, but most alike in noise.
3 WSW Crowder MO (16 May 25) Looking NNE
36.9465, -89.7433