Storm Chaser Encounter: How Close is Too Close to a Texas Tornado?
June has been a very active month for severe storms and tornadoes across much of Texas. Movies like "Twister" portray storm chasers as glorifying storms as something fun to be around, when in reality, they are dangerous and deadly. If you have ever been in a tornado, you may have a different opinion.
Everything is Bigger in Texas - Massive Monster Tornado Strikes
While the storms may be fun to watch, the aftermath of destruction is no laughing matter. Storm chasers put their lives on the line every time they head out to chase one of nature's ferocious storms.
Many gather valuable data and analysis for their TV stations to help understand the velocity of tornadoes. Some storm chasers like living on the edge and push the boundaries to see how close they can get to a tornado without getting harmed in this adrenaline-fueled job.
Close Encounter With Morton Tornado
Such as the case of Storm Chaser Aaron Rigsby, who recently had a close encounter with a monster tornado about 2.1 miles wide near Morton, Texas, just Northwest of Lubbock. The video footage captured last week was amazing and hair-raising at the same time.
The tornado kicked up a lot of dust in an open field and spawned softball-size hail, but luckily, Rigsby was left unscathed and unharmed. Thankfully, by the time the tornado reached town, it had pretty much dissipated.
You have to tip your hat to these storm chasers who lay it on the line to bring their viewers some incredible footage under extreme weather conditions.