This long-lived (over half an hour) tornado was obviously well-organized and probably quite intense at times, capable of great damage to a populated area. During its early and small stage it injured two kids in an overturned vehicle along I-80 and destroyed some unanchored mobile homes. Fortunately, the vortex missed nearby settlements and passed over open farm and ranch land as it briefly developed concentric vortex tubes, then grew stouter (shown here, in the shape of a thick stovepipe). Although we were in what usually is an optimal photographic position to the east and southeast of the tornado, a deep, dense core of rain and hail was wrapping around the opposite side, reducing available light and contrast near the tornado, while we bathed in a most unwelcome shaft of glaring sunlight. That was a tough break, a tremendous photographic challenge, and we were quite fortunate to get any decent images at all on slide film. In its dying gasp, the tube would contort into a worm-like form.
4 NNW Big Springs NE (10 Jun 4) Looking NNW
RADARStovepipe Tornado
This long-lived (over half an hour) tornado was obviously well-organized and probably quite intense at times, capable of great damage to a populated area. During its early and small stage it injured two kids in an overturned vehicle along I-80 and destroyed some unanchored mobile homes. Fortunately, the vortex missed nearby settlements and passed over open farm and ranch land as it briefly developed concentric vortex tubes, then grew stouter (shown here, in the shape of a thick stovepipe). Although we were in what usually is an optimal photographic position to the east and southeast of the tornado, a deep, dense core of rain and hail was wrapping around the opposite side, reducing available light and contrast near the tornado, while we bathed in a most unwelcome shaft of glaring sunlight. That was a tough break, a tremendous photographic challenge, and we were quite fortunate to get any decent images at all on slide film. In its dying gasp, the tube would contort into a worm-like form.
4 NNW Big Springs NE (10 Jun 4) Looking NNW
RADAR