A tornado tore through southern Iowa at a speed of about 45 mph, causing destruction to wind turbines and leaving a path of devastation in its wake. In Greenfield, cars were overturned, homes were destroyed, and five people lost their lives on May 21. The tornado was later classified as an EF4 by the National Weather Service and injured 35 individuals.
Several tornadoes hit the state that day, prompting most residents to seek shelter in their basements. However, a team of nine storm-chasing scientists ventured closer to the tornadoes in an attempt to gather valuable data.
Just before 3 p.m., the team sprang into action when radar screens indicated the presence of a tornado. They positioned one of their radar trucks approximately 10 miles west of Greenfield, while another team placed scientific equipment directly in the tornado’s path.
Despite facing falling debris and obstacles, the team successfully collected data about the tornado, marking the third instance of wind speeds exceeding 300 miles per hour within a tornado. The findings from the tornado in Greenfield offer insight into the destructive power of such natural phenomena.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
