Nelson Tucker

Reflecting on a truly wild, tornado-packed summer break with @otusproject.bsky.social to mark the beginning of year 23 on this planet!

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Our world-first night vision tornado drone intercept of the Fort Ransom, ND EF2 on June 20. Watch the *FULL* video at this link: youtu.be/g_6qMXHlsqw

Aftermath the next day. Home across street was outside scour strip, but core context was impressive with long grass destroyed at road rise. Dirt scour & cycloidal deposits at intercept zone (bottom right image). If recovered, we can get wind measurements from drone blackbox.

Looking inside the powerful Spiritwood, ND wedge tornado near peak size and strength. This was our second flight into it on June 20. Watch the *FULL* video at this link: youtu.be/akQbDX-MMlo

Potent wet microburst at Lake Anna, VA - snapped adjacent tree and power out #vawx

Saw a multi-vortex tornado this afternoon at Parmelee SD, had an @otusproject.bsky.social deployment on this

Narrowly missed getting a drone inside this tornado south of Johnstown/Ainsworth, NE yesterday evening. We will be on the hunt for the next few days. Photo taken by team member @tornadostudy.bsky.social

Here's a timeline of the catastrophic Texas floods NPR has compiled a timeline of when local, state and federal officials posted warnings on social media as well as the timeline of events as presented by local officials.

…were reportedly either not ready, unable, or chose to not communicate or take action until flood already hit. This article has a timeline of warnings and local government communication (Kerrville): www.npr.org/2025/07/05/n...

Exactly! NWS is only PART of the warning process. NWS forecasts, warns, gives info and tools to entities

Private sector (apps, broadcast) disseminates to wider audiences

Local authorities, entities are responsible to plan, act, evac

*NWS* warnings were good!
But local leaders… 1/2

A peek at preliminary tornado data we are still processing. These traces are from one of the drones circling in the anticyclonic Higgins, TX-OK EF1 on May 18. The validation and quality control process takes time, but more data will be shared as we progress.

Part 1 of our Spiritwood tornado flights, inside the tornadogenesis and growth of this monster. Watch the *FULL* video at this link: youtu.be/b9IicWFL0VQ

A comparison of our non-night vision perspective:

World's first night vision drone intercept of a tornado near Fort Ransom, ND Friday night:

Inside the EF3+ Spiritwood, ND wedge tornado near peak intensity from our research drone!

Our first flight yesterday was inside the tornadogenesis and growth phase of a soon-to-be wedge tornado near Spiritwood and Jamestown, ND. Data and more video will be shared as we process material.

🚨HELP NEEDED 🚨
One of the two drones flown through this tornado has not yet been recovered. It holds immensely valuable data. We are exploring all avenues to locate it. Please let us know if you find this drone or can assist. Last known position at 46°56'28.0"N, 98°25'56.3"W

Today’s chase and deployments were ludicrous.

Inside the entire tornadogenesis of the mile-wide Morton, TX, EF2 tornado. Watch the *FULL* video here: youtu.be/OaNBkp1xWfg

Our research drone collected data through tornadogenesis near Morton, TX yesterday, including this subvortex early in its life.

One of our more eventful chases of the season… big day, and gearing up for tomorrow!

Inside of an EF1-rated tornado and severe thunderstorm winds near Willard, CO on May 23. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/nRc38pZ0E5s

A birds-eye view from our research drone of a tornado as it struck the town of Crowder, MO on May 16th. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/P3KC8TtBros

The first tornado we intercepted that day; had 2 drones simultaneously circling this tornado sampling the environment. This is the view from one of them!

Just one of the intercepts we made on Sunday!

We flew through and stayed in the centers of two tornadoes today, triple intercepts! Most remarkable experience of my life chasing these tornadoes

An incredible look inside a tornado from our research drone of structures being destroyed in Crowder, Missouri

We did it. I can hardly believe what just happened.

Tornado from a distance near North Platte, NE this evening on our @otusproject.bsky.social chase #newx

See @otusproject.bsky.social for more on our research efforts studying tornadoes!

The awesome might of a raging supercell with a wedge tornado at night in the Nebraska Sandhills, April 27, 2025. #newx