Yates Center, Kansas Tornado - May 8, 2003

[scottallensarchet]

This video was shot near where Mark Hefferns house got creamed. Mike was laying in a ditch with his Harley on this day. The tornado passed over him and his harley, smashed his house and stacked one of his trucks on top of the other. Mark and the Harley were unscathed. Meanwhile while all this was happening I was in town riding my motorcycle while the sirens were blaring. It was alot of fun up until I heard about Mark, that was sad.

[ferrarimike23]

Did he dieded?

[brandybuck21]

I remember this. I was about 19 at the time and scared to death in the basement. The house wasn't destroyed, but the neighbor's car was and debris that was once a house rained down on the yard.

[TWBZombieProductions]

actually it was NE it was about 2 miles from my house go wildcats

[Sniper0Sigma]

i've watched countless tornadoes form and run on their own way. I guess its one of those perks living in Kansas.

[Driv3r14]

and that's a rain wall tornado.

they always are in kansas.

it doesn't rain close to the tornado but then 5 seconds after it passes it's pouring.

[Driv3r14]

I was 6 when this happened and here's the funny thing,

I lived 5 miles away from where most the destruction was and the sirens went off and all the kids in the neighborhood went outside,

me and my friend actually started playing basketball.

[scottallensarchet]

@Driv3r14

You played basketball in the tornado, I rode my motorcycle, and then Cyclone Jim is the one that gets the glory of being brave and extreme. If only WE had a camera.  hahahaha.

[Jamiesyme999]

aha how fast was that sucker going

[Yarndt]

It looks like it split into two tornadoes for a while. It almost puts me in mind of the Goshen Tornado on Palm Sunday, '65.

[bcchs35]

wow big tornado

[cray2602]

Thats incredible, that tornadoe missed the house i live in now by less than a mile. You can still see the debris trail from that tornadoe 5 years later. Lots of trees and limbs laying down where it went through.

[tomtom191]

Look at 4:42

[ProfessorIgor]

and then at 3:29 the RFD makes is unwelcome appearance !!! time to GO GO GO !!

[jsauerii]

Hey Jim, Thx for uploading that video. I never made it there in time to see it but arrived about 10 minutes after and helped clear a few roads NW of town to make them passable again.

[onehitta1]

Is that debris flying just before the three minute mark?

[cyclonejimcom]

The tornado is totally obscurred in dirt and debris during the time from when we turned north to get into position to watch it cross the road. Early on there are cloud tags seen at a fair distance rotating around the tornado. I estimate this tornado was moving at about 40kts to the east.

[onehitta1]

I really admire you for getting so close to such an ominous character in nature, and for that matter, all who desire to do the same. The thing that gets me most is how fearful I used to be of them, and through watching things like this I see the hidden beauty they command; thank you for showing the distinction I never used to see.

[Cchrisbud813]

Jim Leonard has had some incredible chases. I love his footage. This thing is enormous!

[lateintheday2007]

Look at that debri on the left of it at about 2:48. At first I thought it was birds.

LOL, "Alright, hang on, it's gonna be windy"!

Great beauty. I just cant get over how it was moving so fast yet took a long time to cross the road. Must have been tremendously huge.

[cyclonejimcom]

Those were birds, they were fighting the SW winds that reached our location, I estimate about 35mph at that moment. The winds around us increased to about 50mph when we were closest to the tornado as it was crossing the road.

[lateintheday2007]

Thanks for the correction! Amazing footage.

[kcmet79]

the haze/visibility on 5/8/2003 was ridiculously shitty.

[prettyeyesrox]

that tornado took out my besties house her name is Kelly yeah it sucked

[partyimmie]

nice

[Heyde1979]

great video Jim Leonard is God

[asf146]

nice.... :-D

[loveacat25]

REAL COOL VIDEO!!! I LOVE IT!!

[momotous]

Thats about as close as you ever want to get.

[vmax135]

WOW!!! Unbelievable Jim! You guys were within walking distance of the inflow jet!!