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| Credit: Dusty Compton/Tuscaloosa News, via Associated Press |
What a freakin' monster.
A rare sideways tornado was captured on video as it spun off of a massive twister that roared through downtown Tuscaloosa, Ala., yesterday (April 27).
Just how rare are these sideways spinners?
"There's not even a settled-upon name for those," said Bob Henson, a meteorologist with the National Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo.
In the video, horizontal, rope-like funnel clouds periodically twist off of the main funnel cloud. At 1:20 in the video, a large sideways funnel cloud forms in front of the twister.
Sideways funnel clouds are usually seen only with the biggest and baddest of tornadoes, and yesterday was no exception, Henson told OurAmazingPlanet. The huge tornado may have carved a path from downtown Tuscaloosa to downtown Birmingham, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) apart. The tornado appears to be a mile wide and seemed to be on the ground for more than two hours.
The exact death toll from this monster is unknown, but statewide, tornadoes killed an estimated 162 people, CNN reported.
Prayers for the victims. Send cash if you have it.
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| Credit: Dusty Compton/Tuscaloosa News, via Associated Press |
