The Storm Journal
Explanations of the instruments, terminology, and meteorology behind severe storm intercepts. Written to sit alongside the survey records in the storm archive.
How Is a Tornado Measured? The Fujita Scale, Damage Indicators and Radar
Tornado ratings come from the damage left behind, not from a wind gauge. How the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales work, what the 28 damage indicators are, and where radar fits.
Storm Chase Vehicle Specs Compared: TIV, Dominator and Doppler on Wheels
Weight, engine, armor, anchoring and current status for the TIV 1, TIV 2, the Dominator series and the DOW radar trucks, with the figures side by side.
Reed Timmer's Dominator Fleet: Every Vehicle from 1 to 5
The full Dominator lineage, from the 2007 Tahoe that started it to the Dominator 5 still being built. Includes why there has never been a Dominator 4.
What Is a Tornado Debris Signature? The Radar Proof a Tornado Is On the Ground
A debris ball on reflectivity and a collapse in correlation coefficient together confirm a tornado is on the ground and destroying things. How forecasters read it, and what it cannot tell them.
Tornado vs Twister: Is There Any Difference?
Twister and tornado mean the same thing. Here is where the word came from, why the 1996 film fixed it in the language, and the terms that genuinely do describe different storms.
What is the Doppler on Wheels? The Radar That Measured 300 MPH Winds
The Doppler on Wheels is a mobile radar truck built to drive within a few miles of a tornado. Here is who built it, what it measured at Bridge Creek-Moore, and why it sees what NEXRAD cannot.
What is the TIV 1? Weight, Cost, and the Original Intercept Vehicle
Sean Casey's original Tornado Intercept Vehicle weighed 14,000 pounds and cost roughly $81,000 to build. Here is how the TIV 1 was armored, and why its drivetrain held it back.
Has Canada Ever Had an F5 Tornado? The 2007 Elie, Manitoba Tornado
Yes, once. The 2007 Elie, Manitoba tornado is the only F5 ever confirmed in Canada, and nobody died in it. Here is why it earned the rating, and what the rest of Canada's tornado record looks like.
Why Wasn't the 2013 El Reno Tornado Rated an EF5? Radar vs. Damage Indicators
Why wasn't the 2013 El Reno tornado rated an EF5 despite 295+ mph radar winds? Explore how the Enhanced Fujita Scale works and why open fields limited its rating to EF3.
What is the Dominator 3? Deployment, Probes, and the 3.2 Upgrades
What is the Dominator 3? Learn about Reed Timmer's armored tornado intercept vehicle, its Dorothy rocket probes, and its rigorous mechanical history.
What is the TIV 2? Weight, Cost, and How It Survives a Tornado
What is the TIV 2? Learn how much the Tornado Intercept Vehicle weighs, what it sold for on Craigslist, and how it deploys to film inside a tornado.
What Does a Tornado Sound Like? The Acoustic Reality of a Vortex
What does a tornado actually sound like? Explore the science of tornado acoustics, from infrasound and wind shear to why the freight train comparison persists.
What Does "Slabbed" Mean in Tornado Damage? Engineering and the EF Scale
What does slabbed mean in tornado damage surveys? Learn how structural engineers and meteorologists evaluate swept-away homes and EF-Scale wind ratings.
What is NEXRAD? The Network That Sees the Storm
NEXRAD is the network of 160 WSR-88D Doppler radars behind every tornado warning. Learn how it measures wind, what dual-polarization added, and where beam overshoot limits it.
The Best Month to Chase Tornadoes
May concentrates more significant tornadoes than any other month, but the season shifts geographically from March through June. Here is what the climatology actually supports.
Funnel Cloud or SCUD? How to Tell the Difference
SCUD clouds get reported as tornadoes on every active severe weather day. Learn what separates ragged wind-driven scud from a genuine funnel cloud, and why the distinction matters for spotters.
How Do Tornadoes Dissipate?
Tornadoes do not run out of energy and stop. Learn how the rear flank downdraft, the rope stage, and storm-scale processes bring a tornado to an end.