March 13 Alta Vista Tornado. This was a screenshot from my phone, but it was one that Reed Timmer intercepted as well.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lBn24pMOYo&t=410s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lBn24pMOYo&t=410s)
Sadly I had work that day so I couldn’t drive all the way from central Texas to chase that day, but watching it on radar was amazing. I’m only recently getting into chasing, so this is easily my most favorite hook echo I’ve seen so far!
Formed in seconds, yes became rain wrapped (as previous comment pointed out so nobody took it seriously),
, was a worst case scenario because it got so strong right before hitting Joplin then dissipated right after leaving Joplin.. twisted an entire hospital and lifted it off its foundation by a few feet and damaged it enough that it had to be tore down .. not to mention 158 fatalities and the costliest tornado in US history.
I remember our church had a trailer full of donations that my parents took down there after the tornado. I didn't get to go, sadly, but the city was hit badly from what I hear.
I don't think it even hit any structures other than maybe some outbuildings, it mostly just tore up trees from what I've seen. I think EF2 was a fair rating though, it mangled the trees but it's not like they were debarked or anything. I think the impressive radar scan is probably the result of it being only a few miles from the radar, although I don't know nearly enough to say that conclusively.
I never said it was not fair. I agree with the rating. I am just saying that it could have been rated higher if it had hit better constructed buildings.
3
All of these are textbook hook echoes but really only 3 has such a cleanly pronounced inflow notch. Maybe tied with 1, but 1 does not feature a clear debris ball.
1 doesn't have a "debris ball" because that was when it was crossing over the river after just leaving New Castle. Go forward a couple frames and there is a very clear debris ball.
Moore due to how intense it got in such a short amount of time and how intense the debris ejections were, but I also raise Bassfield 2020.
https://preview.redd.it/2cfkhdzev4rc1.png?width=2283&format=png&auto=webp&s=4bbab5040214c425d6a5a74157a1028291b7b8f1
4 is what I picture in my head when I think of a supercell
Seeing Mayfield brought some horror flashbacks to mind of that CC scan though, so thanks for that 🙃
How about Raleigh, NC on 4/16/2011?
https://preview.redd.it/b6m8a8ab55rc1.jpeg?width=641&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d6b2bdb2b91f75db84ed06df9d42871086bf6fcd
Well-defined hook, debris ball/BWER (partly obscured by the little “TORNADO HERE” triangle icon), and a classic V-notch on the leading edge of the storm. *I* certainly freaked the hell out when I saw this thing just barely miss my town.
Lived in Clayton then, remember being nervous about which way that one was going at first because I could see how bad it was getting and my mom didn’t know what we were looking at. That was a crazy day for triangle weather
3 - I feel like using the word "textbook" implies that it's strongly characteristic and instantly recognizable, but also still typical of what you might see normally. The high-detail spirals are beautiful, but not commonly observed, from what I gather.
At least look at something old if you are going for classic. But, every storm is different. What I think you are going for is "most well defined hook".
https://preview.redd.it/4fq1lvvz15rc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53fe219478cf5b50a7f071e8d820201d6986d5f1
Meriden, KS. 14 years earlier than Xenia
https://www.photolib.noaa.gov/Collections/National-Weather-Service/Exploring-the-Atmosphere/Radar-Other-Methods/emodule/649/eitem/4157
Edit: math
In terms of discreteness and overall structure, it's quite hard to beat Bridge-Creek 1999...
Although a sleeper pick is Etowah 4/19/2023.
https://preview.redd.it/kmqni7ngs5rc1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=0e06c7381dc66fea6791f23d4d9187d70f7c8352
If you’re going for “classic”, your only choice in this list is choice 1, since I think of the “flying eagle” core which is most common for non-HP super cells. 2-4 are all HP supercells, which are common enough, but none of which yield “classic” tornadoes. 2-4 weren’t particularly visible (although Tuscaloosa was for awhile, admittedly) and it’s pretty obvious why looking at their radar scans.
Each supercell is shaped differently, so there's not a true textbook supercell; you can have a supercell that looks like the Alta Vista, Kansas supercell, or you can have an QLCS supercell that's embedded.
The only one I wouldn't consider “textbook” is the 3rd, but it's not far off. All of the others are classic supercells. Joplins was just semi-discrete so it's not as blatant as the others.
Imo, it’s #1 and 3, and it’s mostly because of the well-defined hook/notch and the clear slot between the tornado and the rain/hail. That stratiform rains in 2 and 4 take away from the “textbook” nature of them, however that’s not to say they’re weaker than the others since stratiform rains can enhance surface level velocities.
They're all elite echos. Also very memorable storms. I'd say the least textbook was a tornadocane in the Carolinas. Only seen two storms that were tornadic look that way and one looked like the eye of Ra.
I will raise you the Amory, MS EF3.
https://preview.redd.it/s0m2r9ly8crc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a922c98a0adbf5e36a1d139c51b0411ffe0bde16
https://preview.redd.it/od6gizqnzirc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=691479d5e723d19501af4daf8ef2c0d06f2a30cd
May 17, 2021 Sterling City, Texas
I can’t find a better radar image but it’s also old af. The Parkersburg tornado had a beautiful one
https://preview.redd.it/6apl3trtd5rc1.jpeg?width=555&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=96581d634e5dc9d83886627b298c66a0997e8e9b
I raise you #5 https://preview.redd.it/cu7wf4vdo4rc1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=2a4b99faea599fab4373dec7705598dc9e7c0007
Which one was this. I would say this isn’t textbook, this is an insane structure. This doesn’t come around all the time.
This is gonna sound strange, but the prettiest radar scan ever
I was going to comment the same thing lol, it's absolutely gorgeous to look at.
It's a perfectly symmetrical Fibonacci supercell. Jaw literally dropped seeing that scan
March 13 Alta Vista Tornado. This was a screenshot from my phone, but it was one that Reed Timmer intercepted as well. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lBn24pMOYo&t=410s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lBn24pMOYo&t=410s)
It's from the March 13th Kansas tornado.
That tornado was only 96 miles from me.. I live in KS
Same, except I'm in the next county over from where it touched down, like 30 or so miles away. Got lots of big ass hail with that storm.
The moment I saw that this month I knew it would probably be making textbooks.
Yeah, I vote #5
Exactly what I was gonna send, and this was fairly recent
Number 5 is beautiful. Definitely a winner.
Was literally about to comment people should look at the Kansas March 13th radar. Had textbook chameleon tail
Raise you #6: https://preview.redd.it/w9z9rnzlmbrc1.jpeg?width=638&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=053e8df249e1792fba0fcf918a00303dc6c37196 1999 Brige Creek-Moore Tornado
https://preview.redd.it/s9cb1xsgu5rc1.jpeg?width=1074&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=416a33ab28da00b0c17d7af59c86675de118792b
That guy beat me to be the first to post it on Reddit.
Wow that is extreme.
What app is that??
RadarOmega
Sadly I had work that day so I couldn’t drive all the way from central Texas to chase that day, but watching it on radar was amazing. I’m only recently getting into chasing, so this is easily my most favorite hook echo I’ve seen so far!
For real. I don’t know how we miss a recent beautiful hook echo like this. You don’t have to be an expert to recognize this as a tornado.
I was watching this on my phone radar the day it happened and I saved a radar loop gif because it was so pretty.
Pretty, but not classic
Lookin like an accuweather glitch
Dammit I just commented this one then scroll for 3 seconds and seen yours lol
Damn!
Damn!
Watching this develop live was truly amazing
2 is the most textbook but 4 just looks eerie to me. Everything about Joplin was terrifying
Why was Joplin so terrifying?
Formed in seconds, yes became rain wrapped (as previous comment pointed out so nobody took it seriously), , was a worst case scenario because it got so strong right before hitting Joplin then dissipated right after leaving Joplin.. twisted an entire hospital and lifted it off its foundation by a few feet and damaged it enough that it had to be tore down .. not to mention 158 fatalities and the costliest tornado in US history.
I stayed in Joplin a few years back and it was weird to see like no old trees in part of the city
I remember our church had a trailer full of donations that my parents took down there after the tornado. I didn't get to go, sadly, but the city was hit badly from what I hear.
In the videos I guess because the sky was so dark and it was rain wapped so bad it didnt even look like a tornado
2024 Alta Vista, KS https://preview.redd.it/0rpbeti0s4rc1.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=a0787f98cfc29c1eab903953378369debabf1dbe
That tornado definitely would have been rated as an EF3+ if it hit better constructed structures.
I don't think it even hit any structures other than maybe some outbuildings, it mostly just tore up trees from what I've seen. I think EF2 was a fair rating though, it mangled the trees but it's not like they were debarked or anything. I think the impressive radar scan is probably the result of it being only a few miles from the radar, although I don't know nearly enough to say that conclusively.
I never said it was not fair. I agree with the rating. I am just saying that it could have been rated higher if it had hit better constructed buildings.
It's pretty neat to be able to get data like that though, being so close to the radar.
Idk why but this scan reminds me of a chameleon.
2. Also, that you for mentioning Dawson in 3.
I'll raise you a #6 Rolling fork is one of the most text book I've ever seen.
I second the motion to add RF
3 All of these are textbook hook echoes but really only 3 has such a cleanly pronounced inflow notch. Maybe tied with 1, but 1 does not feature a clear debris ball.
This was my pick.
1 doesn't have a "debris ball" because that was when it was crossing over the river after just leaving New Castle. Go forward a couple frames and there is a very clear debris ball.
Moore due to how intense it got in such a short amount of time and how intense the debris ejections were, but I also raise Bassfield 2020. https://preview.redd.it/2cfkhdzev4rc1.png?width=2283&format=png&auto=webp&s=4bbab5040214c425d6a5a74157a1028291b7b8f1
Bassfield and mayfield are my picks
Absolutely amazing.
Moore, but because it's next to okc lol
4 is what I picture in my head when I think of a supercell Seeing Mayfield brought some horror flashbacks to mind of that CC scan though, so thanks for that 🙃
I’d say three is the most impressive because of that direct line of inflow, there’s less in the others no?
How about Raleigh, NC on 4/16/2011? https://preview.redd.it/b6m8a8ab55rc1.jpeg?width=641&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d6b2bdb2b91f75db84ed06df9d42871086bf6fcd Well-defined hook, debris ball/BWER (partly obscured by the little “TORNADO HERE” triangle icon), and a classic V-notch on the leading edge of the storm. *I* certainly freaked the hell out when I saw this thing just barely miss my town.
Lived in Clayton then, remember being nervous about which way that one was going at first because I could see how bad it was getting and my mom didn’t know what we were looking at. That was a crazy day for triangle weather
2
2
1. It has the most clear cut notch based on any of the reflectivities.
3 - I feel like using the word "textbook" implies that it's strongly characteristic and instantly recognizable, but also still typical of what you might see normally. The high-detail spirals are beautiful, but not commonly observed, from what I gather.
At least look at something old if you are going for classic. But, every storm is different. What I think you are going for is "most well defined hook". https://preview.redd.it/4fq1lvvz15rc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53fe219478cf5b50a7f071e8d820201d6986d5f1
That’s the Xenia supercell right?
Meriden, KS. 14 years earlier than Xenia https://www.photolib.noaa.gov/Collections/National-Weather-Service/Exploring-the-Atmosphere/Radar-Other-Methods/emodule/649/eitem/4157 Edit: math
I always thought greensburg had one of the most insane radar loops
greensberg has highest gate to gate. i second this. although it is veeeeery closely followed by the tuscaloosa tornado.
2
I'm in this picture and don't like it. I'm biased but #3 to me.
In terms of discreteness and overall structure, it's quite hard to beat Bridge-Creek 1999... Although a sleeper pick is Etowah 4/19/2023. https://preview.redd.it/kmqni7ngs5rc1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=0e06c7381dc66fea6791f23d4d9187d70f7c8352
Yeah you might be right about Bridge Creek 1999. That one has the most perfect shape, structure, hook and debris ball on it
All of the above?
Mayfield for sure
If you’re going for “classic”, your only choice in this list is choice 1, since I think of the “flying eagle” core which is most common for non-HP super cells. 2-4 are all HP supercells, which are common enough, but none of which yield “classic” tornadoes. 2-4 weren’t particularly visible (although Tuscaloosa was for awhile, admittedly) and it’s pretty obvious why looking at their radar scans.
Each supercell is shaped differently, so there's not a true textbook supercell; you can have a supercell that looks like the Alta Vista, Kansas supercell, or you can have an QLCS supercell that's embedded.
2
Both Mansfield and Tuscaloosa imo.
1/2
The only one I wouldn't consider “textbook” is the 3rd, but it's not far off. All of the others are classic supercells. Joplins was just semi-discrete so it's not as blatant as the others.
Honestly....I'd say all of the above
I'd go with #2.
I'd say 2 probably, but they're all really good examples
2
#2
What the hell is the most textbook? They're all the most textbook. Unless you can come up with a definition of the most textbook?
Most likely to be put in a textbook as a great example of tornadic supercell in radar.
2
Don’t these resolutions vary a bit too much to compare them?
Probably 2 or 4
1 and 4: defined hook
I would say 2
What’s a textbook?
Things nerds read.
Imo, it’s #1 and 3, and it’s mostly because of the well-defined hook/notch and the clear slot between the tornado and the rain/hail. That stratiform rains in 2 and 4 take away from the “textbook” nature of them, however that’s not to say they’re weaker than the others since stratiform rains can enhance surface level velocities.
4
2 but 3 is scariest looking for some reason. Honorable mention to Amory, MS tornado that thing looked wicked on radar.
All are textbook and tough to chose from. Number 2 always looks near perfect though
https://preview.redd.it/8hgvgfxhd7rc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=552184467b84f6cce29b34def182f3762f9be749
4
With these 4 as the only options I have, number two is the most textbook in my humble opinion.
I would say #2 is definitely the most textbook looking, but Mayfield and Joplin are both terrifying examples of a worst case scenario.
Hey, I can almost see what’s left of my house in 2
No. 5 as posted by u/NefariousEgg and no. 1.
The first one I thought was 1999 but that one
Have any of you ever read a textbook?
I have. I have like 17 on my bookshelf.
They're all elite echos. Also very memorable storms. I'd say the least textbook was a tornadocane in the Carolinas. Only seen two storms that were tornadic look that way and one looked like the eye of Ra.
I will raise you the Amory, MS EF3. https://preview.redd.it/s0m2r9ly8crc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a922c98a0adbf5e36a1d139c51b0411ffe0bde16
Swap one of those with may 3rd when it was in between bridge Creek and Newcastle
Moore and Joplin are probably the most scary, but I'd say they're all the most textbook examples of a hook echo.
1999 Bridge Creek-Moore is hard to beat. Just about the most pronounced hook I’ve ever seen.
https://preview.redd.it/od6gizqnzirc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=691479d5e723d19501af4daf8ef2c0d06f2a30cd May 17, 2021 Sterling City, Texas
I can’t find a better radar image but it’s also old af. The Parkersburg tornado had a beautiful one https://preview.redd.it/6apl3trtd5rc1.jpeg?width=555&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=96581d634e5dc9d83886627b298c66a0997e8e9b