This photograph is of a mile-wide violent tornado was taken on April 26, 1991.
Human observers provide "ground truth" information to assist in interpreting satellite and radar information. Scientists can study the images and compare them to the data gathered at the same time to formulate a more complete picture of the storm.
This tornado was part of the Wichita Andover Outbreak in which 55 tornadoes struck from Texas northward to Iowa. The worst tornadoes occurred in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, the most notable being the one that struck Andover, Kansas, killing 17 people, 13 in a mobile home trailer park. There were 308 injuries and over $280 million damage.
Choose the photo browser from the Tornado subtopic menus to see more dramatic photographs of tornadoes, or select another icon to view this tornado from a different vantage point.
