News DetailPictures of the Greensburg F-5 -- and -- Our enhanced video from May 5, 2007
Posted At: May 8, 2007 @ 3:25 PM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Tornadoes
Here are some video frame captures of the Greensburg, KS EF-5 taken by our friends Don Guiliano and Dave Demko. Note the INCREDIBLE structure in the second picture!
Shown below is our video from the May 5, 2007 tornado in Stafford County, KS, west of St. John. I enhanced the brightness/contrast slightly such that it appears more like it did in real life. This is a VERY violent tornado...and thankfully it did not hit a populated area. We crossed a very wide damage path from the previous day's tornadoes several times before intercepting this ~1/4 mile wide tornado.
Shown below is our video from the May 5, 2007 tornado in Stafford County, KS, west of St. John. I enhanced the brightness/contrast slightly such that it appears more like it did in real life. This is a VERY violent tornado...and thankfully it did not hit a populated area. We crossed a very wide damage path from the previous day's tornadoes several times before intercepting this ~1/4 mile wide tornado.
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VERY COOL! Great stuff
Reed, Nice Shooting...
That one was huge. Nice shooting.
Is there any possibilities of tornadoes tonight? it seems to be a great storm over texas...
Nice job retouching your video, Reed. It looked like you shot it at dusk before, and I couldn't figure it out since I had your tracker on this storm during full daylight! So it all makes sense now. Thanks :D
That looks much better. Nice work guys!
Jesus guys, I know something like this calls for some excitement but you sounded like a bunch of damn girls at a beatles concert. Show some composure, your viewers are looking for you to talk them through this segment, not sound like a hysteric in a theatre fire.
More Video and Less Talk
Skip
That is insane footage! Don't listen to anyone about how you're reacting to that swirling wall of death that was right in front of you, god knows they would never have the balls to do it.
I find it kinda humorous that the radio is talking about a "possible tornado" from that storm as you are watching a 1/2 mile tornado float by a mere 30-50 yards away.
Awesome footage, nice job on the enhancements! I can't imagine how that car must have shook when that monster crossed the road.
Skip,
Can't please the world. But people like you need to exist to remind us how variable peoples perceptions are. Sorry we can't cater to 100% of the human population.
On another note, I think its highly egocentric to ask another to act a certain way just because you don't like it. Reed and Joel can act however they want. They are who they are, if you don't like it, then don't watch. Why should they change for the minority when the majority actually enjoy the video. We can't chase storms and continually think about what we're saying in fear that someone doesn't like it. We simply need to be who we are. So next time you're in an exciteable moment, don't say ANYTHING, cuz I find it offense to speak at all during exciteable moments, therefore you need to do as I say?!
GET IT!!!???? Sounds ridiculous doesn't it?!
Two reasons I won't complain about how Joel and Reed act on their adventures:
1. It's not my place to judge.
2. I would act the same way.
Great footage. I was in a Tornado in Edmonton, AB in 1987 that was 1mph from F5 wind speed. I know the terror of a large tornado people who downplay its effect on you have never experienced them. Even the sight of that thing bring absolute terror into my heart... oddly compelling at the same time. I applaud your efforts and wish you to continue them. Only one suggestion though. I would like to hear the storm I was wondering if you could put some microphones on the outside of your truck that would be cool. Its a sound you never forget.
Folks,
If you don't like the boy's verbal reactions, just watch with the sound off. That's what I do. Frankly, I don't care about what they have to say, I just enjoy watching the culmination of their hard work and research.
Ms. Tree
I really don't mind their talking. sry if you got the impression I did not. But a boom mike rigged to the front would be cool. You would have to put extra foam on the mike to cut out that noise from the wind hitting the mike then you can get the rumbling and the whistling sounds. Really adds effect and would add another level of drama and terror.
Oh WOW!! How cool! Great job guys. I for one,appreciate the chance to view Mother Nature at her finest,or rather,her most fierce! As dangerous and destructive as these things are,I would be thrilled to see it first hand.And I feel like I did with this video! Thanks!!
Don't any of ya focus on the NW part of the county? Lol
Just had severe storms move through NE Oregon/SE Washington.
Hail marble to golfball sized.
Straightline winds 60-70mph.
Was wind damage reported.
There was a TVS and rotation seen near the town of Echo in the vicinity of Pendleton, Oregon.
Just wondering, where exactly this was in Stafford County, I use to live in Pratt, and it saddens me to see all this devistation as I knew many people in Greensburg. I hope you guys continue to get great footage of all these tornados as it shows everyone the extremem danger of them.
And to everyone that keeps talking crap on these guys, please, anyone would act the same way, its just human nature to be excited to see that kind of power first hand.
And I am sure most people would not put their lifes at danger to help educate thoughs that don't chase.
Again keep up the great work
Outstanding!! 10X more exciting than Spiderman!!!! You guys have big nads!
That is an incredible tornado. We could only get glimpses of it from where we were at. The size of this storm was crazy. I knew a big tornado was coming after we saw two cone tornadoes at the same time about thrity minutes before. You dont see many storms like this one. I am not forgetting this day anytime soon.
This tornado was near Macksville. Reed knows a more exact location than I do, but I am guessing its position from where I was 5 miles east of Macksville.
Nice, very very cool video.
You are very good!!!!
nice capture. fortunately it stayed over rural areas
Powerful! Incredible!
I found this site after following links last Saturday morning after the Greensburg, KS tornado and the devastating aftermath. I have to say that I've been back here every day looking for new chase information and getting on the chat boards.
Did everyone know that this year there have been over 660 tornado's reported which is 3x the average for this time of the year? I wonder what the rest of this season has in store?
I personally like to hear how excited Reed gets on the video's. I know I would be the same way. I just wish the video's were longer! If that was even possible!
Thanks guys for doing such a fabulous job and being so passionate about what you do. Keep up the good work! And stay SAFE out there!
Personally, I find it great when Reed gets all worked up out there. I know I would be the same way, with the adrenalin and combined fear and excitement going into overdrive.
Always stay safe, you guys...and please stop getting within 50 yards of tornadoes. That one video almost made me have an accident in my chair. LMAO
And I'm with Bart here: I'm sure most people would NOT put their lives on the line and make a career about going after storms to provide the public with information and educate them with both words and video. But these guys do, and I admire them for it.
FIRESTORM EMERGENCY! IN LA CAL
Awesome footage guys!!!! Have relatives in Liberal, KS so these tornados are a scary reality!
Major damage in El Reno!!
oh boy oh boy got alot going on tonight!
The words and actions of Reed and Joel chasing are similar to several other chasers. Chasers claiming they don't act like a little kid at a candy shop when they spot a tornado are only deceiving themselves. If Reed and Joel get excited, fine by me it is human nature. They have no control over mother nature, and I DON'T (and never have) seen them beg for a tornado to hit a house. These guys are as professional as they come. Plus, if you got as close to a tornado as they do, you may need to stop and check you pants afterwards.
Your video of the Stafford County tornado was more like 3 miles east of Macksville. 5 miles east is the Dillwyn Road. I reconized the white grain building on the farm it was passing. I live at St. John. The radio was reporting about other tornadoes that were NE of St. John at approximately the same time. If you boys had of been going north on the Dillwyn road towards Radium you would have seen two large wedge tornadoes side by side heading north towards K 19 and U.S. Hwy 281. Your footage was great.
Correction: The radio was reporting about other tornadoes that were NW not NE of St. John. Sorry for the typo
Awesome footage. Bone chilling!
Coeur d'Alene finally had it's first thunderstorm of the season! I got home around 7pm and watched the storm come in, standing outside for two hours with a digital camera. Dark ominous clouds started to close in at dusk, then lightening started to flash. Before I knew, the wind started blowing like crazy, lightening flashes became more frequent and closer, and it started to raining hard. It was like the sky exploded. A few the lightening strikes were right over my head and a couple times blinded me for a millisecond! I got a picture of a cool lightening bolt. It's on my Yahoo 360 if anyone wants to see it....
http://360.yahoo.com/my_profile-yybDhNIwdaF4WSzeg7Pz9fIjhCKlsta_eVo-;_ylt=AsfImvaJCLqQq46bhUfCsXGkAOJ3?cq=1
If that link doesn't work, just look me up on 360 by my Yahoo ID angelofmusic121481 :)
awesome video guys
This video scares me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZRkK-gLmnE
Unbelievable!
Unbelievable! Be careful out there!
On a seperate note, it looks like we will have our first named sub-tropical system of the year later this morning. "Andrea" could be announced by late morning and it isn't even June 1 yet! Amazing.
000
WONT41 KNHC 091303
DSAAT
SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
905 AM EDT WED MAY 9 2007
SATELLITE IMAGERY AND PRELIMINARY REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT THIS MORNING INDICATE THAT THE AREA OF LOW
PRESSURE CENTERED ABOUT 150 MILES EAST OF JACKSONVILLE IS ACQUIRING
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE. THE SYSTEM CONTINUES
MOVING GENERALLY WESTWARD AT ABOUT 5 MPH. IF PRESENT TRENDS
CONTINUE... ADVISORIES ON SUBTROPICAL STORM ANDREA WOULD BE
INITIATED LATER THIS MORNING.
DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS CONTINUE ALONG THE COASTS OF THE
CAROLINAS... GEORGIA... AND NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA. INTERESTS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY LOCAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON THIS SYSTEM CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN HIGH SEAS FORECASTS ISSUED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE... UNDER AWIPS HEADER NFDHSFAT1 AND
WMO HEADER FZNT01 KWBC.
$$
FORECASTER FRANKLIN/KNABB
Not to be a negative but I have to agree with Skip above. Your reactions are your own. I don't care about those but if you can help it try to limit the cursing. I tried to show your videos to some of my students in class and we like to hear the wind and your reactions. It sucks that I have to turn the sound off because of random "oh shits" and "oh fucks" flying about.
If you can't help it that's okay to. Great videos!
Hi Kami,
I agree with you...we need to limit the cursing. We've gotten a lot better since we started, but still have a long way to go.
You can believe that we will be watching it from here on out.
Thanks for the suggestion!
i have watched all ur videos on this site, and i just have to say that you guys are absolutely amazing. i just cant stop watching these magnificent videos.
I can't add comments, everytime i try, it says "Please enter only text in the comments area. Tags are not allowed." i don't see any tags in my comment :s
hhmm found the tag :o)
Nice video guys!!
I have a few questions about how the airflow feels around a tornado. The tree u filmed is beeing sucked towards the tornado, does the suction feel strong beeing that far from the tornado? and does the temperature dr0p and raise quick when a tornado is about to appear?
For the people curious about the Tag, it was: dr0p (wrote it with zer0 now)
That is a good plan. The educational value of these videos is great! It will teach people to respect these things and what they can really do. I see people that sit around outside filming these things that have no experience waaaay into the killzone and they have no idea what a splinter from a 2x4 could do to them. The guys on this website have thier work cut out for them only time they get really inside the killzone is purely by accident and who can blame them. Tornados are erratic and they weave all over the place. Anyways cutting down the swearing would be good but if you show these in class I suggest you include a tornado safety class with it teach them about the myths and truths about these things... like for instance hideing under an overpass is TOTALLY unacceptable! Also never EVER ignore tornado sirens I see docs about people in towns being killed because they continue their grocery shopping or whatever figureing its just "another false alarm". Make them aware scare the hell out of them!
Really sweet tornado footage guys! I already freak out in a tornado warning, I'd be scared crapless if I was in the car with you guys. Even so, I think it'd be fun.
It was a big tornado, and I applaud your footage. Unfortunately, your side note was wrong. A police officer who was storm spotting, protecting his town in Maxfield died as a result of this tornado. His patrol car was thrown over 75 yards. I would like to know...was this the same tornado that hit Greensburg, Ks?
@Wouter - I have taken care of the tag issue. You can now use the word "drop" if you want.
Enjoy!
To Bob: Officer Buckman of Macksville was thrown 300 yards from the tornado activity on Friday night, the same night as the Greensburg tornado. This video was taken on Saturday night in Stafford county. Buckman died early Tuesday morning at the hospital in Wichita after his family removed him from life support. The farmhouse the chasers are talking about in the video is the farm of Kerry Suiter who used to live down the street from me in St. John before they moved back to the farm. I am from St. John, KS
Thanks Jason, took some time to figure out which one was the tag. I'm not sure but table is also seen as tag.
Royalty Free stock footage and Rights Managed stock footage from Sony Pictures, HBO, NBC News, NCAA, National Geographic and more
do still have the video of greensburg at night with cows on the side of the road. I would like to show my wife
Noticing that some people would like to use your videos for educational purposes and are hampered by the swearing, etc., and also seeing that there is a lot of excitement and confusion and usually only visual clips of the actual tornados in them....
Have you guys ever thought of making available a wider chronicle of a chase with more clips from throughout the storm development, and possibly an over-dub audio commentary with explanations of what's going on? Interspersing radar images with your map locations and video footage from your viewpoint throughout a whole storm, along with a hindsight account, could be fascinating and even more informative.
OMG! How can you guys do that. That job wuold scare the crap out of me!
P.S.: please respond.
I watched that hail one, sounds like someones hand was bleeding. By the way how is your guys's truck I hope its not damaged too much.
I LIKE CHEESE!!!!