Corn Oklahoma Tornado

June 8th, 1951
B&W, no audio

Cool photo of the two tornadoes before they merged.

Some interesting & little known facts about this tornado:

The event actually consisted of two separate tornadoes, which merged to become a single funnel. Before the twisters joined, one tornado rotated counter-clockwise (cyclonic), the other spun clockwise (anticyclonic).

This tornado is often thought to be the first one ever captured on film. That's true in that it was the first one recorded in the US. But the very first one in the world to be filmed was in 1933 in Cuba.

This tornado was a "co-star" in the first tornado preparedness film, "Tornado!", which was made in 1956. Check out my videos to see that film in its entirety.

Credit: ????

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tornado
• Corn
• Oklahoma
• 1951
• storms
• cyclonic
• anticyclonic
• environment

[TheGallantJed]

where did you find the photo at the beginning? I've scoured the internet for it but no luck.

[naderchaser]

No, cyclonic...i.e. the word "cyclone" spins counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere...like here in the U.S. "Anti-Cyclonic"...or "opposite-of-cyclonic" is clockwise! Just watch the water in your toilet when you flush it...it'll always spin cyclonicly here in the U.S. Same with water draining down the drain of your sink, or your shower, etc.

[naderchaser]

Zoutix, you claim to be in that Corn, Okla tornado as a 5 yr. old in 1951. But, on your personal profile you state that you're 30yrs. old. What's up??

[zoutix]

I was in the middle of that tornado in 1951. I was 5 years old. Corn was nearly wiped off the map. My grandparents house was severely damaged, but repairable. Houses just 1/2 block away were completely gone.

[kounwx]

That's one mean-looking twister!

Btw, I think a cyclonic/anticyclonic merger is physically impossible since their vorticity signs would be opposite and would cancel.

[sbunkboy3]

Wow!! This is phenomenal!! THIS is why I want to study meteorology. Tornado anomalies such as this anticyclonic tornado, and the tri-state tornado, are what really fasincate me...Great vid. Thanks for uploading!!!! =]

[sbunkboy3]

I think you meant clockwise...it's one of the few tornadoes occuring in the northern hemisphere seen to be rotating clockwise

[shelbymainzer]

One of the few tornadoes videotaped going counter clockwise. Cool looking.

[fishingcostarica]

This was the only time in my life she said a harsh word to me.

On the radio news they said that Corn was wiped off the map. That was very close to the truth. No injuries or deaths.

Wow. This was a long time ago.

Thank you for posting the video.

[fishingcostarica]

After he stopped filming, he was in such a hurry to get into his cellar that got hurt in some way. I think he broke a toe.

We watched the tornado until things started flying around. We ran down into the storm cellar and closed the door behind us. This was under ground and my mother tied a rope to the door and ran it into the cellar for all of us to pull so the door would not fly off. The noise was terrible. I got scared and started to cry. My mother told me to shut up and pull.