On this day and location, the largest tornado ever recorded struck rural areas just to the south of this Oklahoma town. The massive twister was 2.6 miles across and contained wind speeds of 295 miles per hour. There have been far more devastating tornadoes that have hit towns and cities wreaking havoc and death and fortunately this one avoided major communities unlike the large tornado the week before it that had devastated Moore Oklahoma (again). It did, however, take several lives.
For those of us who partake in the weather world and chase these storms, that day was particularly devastating. Some of the lives that were lost were those of storm chasers. 3 of them were highly respected and well known meteorological scientists; Tim Samaras, his son Paul, and long time research partner Carl Young. I did see reports of another storm chaser killed as well.
I have to flash back to my last two times chasing tornadoes out on the great plains. On April 14th 2012 I was in Kansas when a large F4 tornado formed and roamed the Kansas countryside. I did not get to enjoy it as much as I would have hoped. The large number of people chasing the storm made it dangerous. There was too much disregard for the law and for the safety of others. I told some of my friends that day it would not be long before someone gets killed.
On April 17th 2013 I got to experience a scenario that would be similar but on a smaller scale than El Reno. I was in Lawton Oklahoma when a small tornado (F0) formed. I was paralleling the storm, but the large number of chasers clogged the roadways. I could not pull over, nor turn off the road I was on. Then the circulation changed direction and began overtaking the road. Cars were scrambling all over, nearly causing accidents and we were suddenly in the middle of the tornado. Lucky for us the winds were only 60-70 mph. Again I told my friends, soon, someone would get caught in one and die. The situation with the crowds was just getting to be too much.
Unfortunately, I was right. This is one time I hated being right.
Weather can turn on you in a second. A bolt of lightning can take you out in a flash. Flash floods can rise up in minutes sweeping you away. Ferocious winds can blow you away and bury you in debris. Huge chunks of ice can beat you to a pulp. We don't always have warning. One minute you are going about your daily routine; 30 minutes later your dead. Life is like that though. Weather is just another way that our wages of sin is paid.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
If the weather suddenly descends on you and takes your life, where will you spend eternity? Will you die in your sins and spend eternity separated from Yahweh your creator? Or, You can accept what Christ has done for you through his obedience and death upon the cross, and partake with Him in resurrection power and with Him spend eternity in paradise. It's a decision you need to make before sudden destruction comes; before it is too late.
Mark 13:34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
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