155.2 mph wind measured by Dominator inside Wyoming tornado!

Check out this plot showing the wind speed and direction measurement from inside the Goshen Co, WY tornado on June 5, 2009, as measured by the SRV roof-top anemometer.  The first maximum in the wind speed shown in the plot is from when we were driving south to intercept the tornado, and the minimum just before the rise to above 150 mph is when we stopped and dropped to the ground with the hydraulics in the tornado's path.  The highest 3 second average was 150.2 mph, with 155.2 mph being the maximum 1 second wind gust.  Winds of this intensity are associated with strong EF3 tornado strength, which I think is about the maximum we could handle with this vehicle.  I cannot explain to you in words the power of this tornado we felt when the vehicle was shaking back and forth and nearly lifted off the ground.  The wind gusts came in intense waves, I'm guessing as the mini-vortices rotated around the parent circulation.  My right ear immediately popped in the center of the tornado as the tumble weeds and other debris were wedged in between the original Tahoe and the bullet-proof shell.  Several Vortex 2 radars were scanning the tornado at the time of our intercept, and we plan on sharing the raw data with the Vortex 2 scientists.  You can check out the video in my last post below or at TornadoVideos.net, and be sure to watch the live tracker on the Storm Chasers homepage as we attempt to drive into more tornadoes! 

Comments

[Steven K., Gomo]

Do you have any information on what the highest wind speeds your vehicle(s) will tolerate?