Exploring Tornado Shapes and Sizes Across the Corn Belt
A veteran storm chaser has documented various tornado shapes and sizes during the storm chase season in the Corn Belt. In March, DVD-size hail was observed near Buckingham, Illinois, surpassing the previous state record. Early April saw tornadoes southeast of Iowa City, with one being only a few feet wide. Tornadoes vary significantly, from mile-wide wedges to narrow ropes. Wedge tornadoes, wider than they are tall, can reach over 30,000 feet high. Multi-vortex tornadoes contain smaller whirlwinds, causing irregular damage patterns. Drill bit tornadoes, with a single cohesive vortex, are common in summer. Invisible tornadoes occur when dust or moisture isn't present to make them visible. Rope tornadoes appear at the end of their lifecycle, while rare 'wrong-way' tornadoes spin clockwise due to local atmospheric conditions.