By Madison Cox and Danielle Drown
Like a scene out of a blockbuster movie, Tony McGee watched a tornado form in front of his very eyes.
"I looked on in awe. I didn't jump up and down and yell and scream, mostly because I was too excited and shocked to do so." McGee said.
From May 8 to June 13, McGee and Rachel Ducharme, both atmospheric science seniors, accompanied Nolan Atkins, professor of atmospheric science, on a research trip across the country called Vortex 2. This government-funded program allows researchers and students to travel around the country collecting data on all types of severe weather. The main objective of this program is to discover more about severe weather in order to improve warning systems.
For McGee and Ducharme, this trip was an opportunity to further their atmospheric studies. Neither had seen tornados previously. Ducharme said, "I have always been interested in severe weather. Tornadoes were just the next thrills on the list that I had yet to have the pleasure to encounter."
Vortex 2 is comprised of about 100 people from all parts of the country. The group divides into small teams in order to obtain different types of data. Atkins' team was responsible for collecting visual images, videos, and recordings of the various weather they encountered.
After traveling thousands of miles, the teams finally got their big break on June 5 in Meriden, Wyo. A moderately sized (EF2 on a 0-5 scale) tornado began to develop. According to Atkins, this was surprising to spot a tornado in Wyoming because it is not considered to be part of "Tornado Alley". It began to develop six miles away from Atkins and Ducharme. McGee and his research partner were at a different location and were able to see the storm from further away.
At the tornado's closest point, it was roughly one mile away from Atkins and Ducharme. This was the most frightening part of the entire trip for Ducharme, who said, "We had to bug out of the area because the tornado was heading right for us. We were driving away and Dr. Atkins lost sight of the tornado. I looked in my rear-view mirror and I saw the tornado crossing the street behind us."
McGee had different thoughts about the tornado. He said, "I wasn't going to cheer for something that was wrecking people's homes and lives, maybe even causing death. It turns out that very little damage was done, and we were very excited to have finally gotten a case to work with." Everyone involved in Vortex 2 was unharmed after the tornado touched down.
Atkins said that contrary to popular belief, watching a tornado from a relatively short distance is actually quiet and calm. He stated that where they were positioned, it was cloudy and slightly windy with no rain whatsoever.
Vortex 2 is going to continue operating until summer 2010, with even more research to develop safer warning systems for those living in tornado territory. Atkins will be going for another six weeks, but is unsure who will be accompanying him.
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