Severe thunderstorm inflow winds

A severe thunderstorm northeast of Guymon, Oklahoma on May 15, 2003. The strong inflow created by this supercell monster is obvious in the adjacent wheat field. At the 43 second mark, note the distant light on the horizon goes out due to a power outage. Thirty minutes later this storm produced a tornado in Liberal, Kansas.

The storm was taped from County Road 19, a paved east-west road between Adams and Optima, and a north-south dirt road labeled Mile 45 and also N1000Rd. I was parked on the dirt road just north of the intersection and the camera was aimed west and northwest.

Severe thunderstorms involve rapidly lifting air which is sucked in mostly at or just above ground level. On this storm I was on the southeast side which is generally where the strongest inflow will be due to the prevailing winds on the high plains. On this day the winds were southeasterly long before the storms formed, hence the wind from that direction was amplified by the storm's influence. I was standing on the lee side of my car, hanging onto the tripod to prevent it from being blown away, and my legs were being stung by blowing sand from the dirt road on which I was parked.

A longer and higher resolution version of this chase is now available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1MkQKKxP0s

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• storm
• thunderstorm
• severe
• inflow
• wind
• lightning
• supercell
• Guymon
• Oklahoma
• panhandle

[pippenn92]

What is this strange very fast moving object at 1:21-1:26 This video is speedup about 2x But anyway brutal storm!

[randy946]

@pippenn92 That's a fast moving car on the paved road labeled on maps as "County Road 19" or "Q Road". The video is played at normal speed.

[GwendolynRaine]

What's that noise in the background, it sounds like a really huge owl? Is that the wind?

[randy946]

@GwendolynRaine That's the wind whistling through the overhead electric lines.

[Faabfabulous]

I don't get the idea of inflow and outflow. I'm trying to do a presentation (for school) on how thunderstorms form but I get stuck at this particular bit every time.

Please help me!!!

Cheers,

Faab from the netherlands.

[randy946]

@Faabfabulous Google "how thunderstorms form" and you should find plenty of resources to help you. Also "thunderstorm inflow" and "thunderstorm outflow" will get you some good links. Good luck on your project!

[IGetSikWitItX]

It's the wonder of nature BABY!!!

[Metallocity]

@GwendolynRaine tornado sirens probably

[NatureBuddyz]

THE GRASS IS DOING THE WAVE! OHH YAAA

[rjones7171]

severe t-strm warning

[lainethecool1]

i see a tornado!!!

[MakeupTeen94]

wow look at that amazing inflow!

[th3azscorpio]

damn I wish we could have em like this out in california, not these wimpy 2 minute storms.

[mayrababe12]

The place reminds me like in thaa movies where all thaa bad stuff happenss,ha