Key observational videos are shown of the features associated with tornadogenesis. The goal of this section is to provide the very best videos possible. For each feature, up to four videos have been selected. For an explanation on how environmental conditions are important to observation, click on Video Observations. You can also click on the heading for each feature for more information.
Jun 20, 2025 – Enderlin, ND EF5 (Max Mueller)
RFD at 1:01:41 to 1:04:43
Enderlin EF5 Deep Inside RFD with Inflow Channel Wrapping Around Entire RFD and Tornado Into Southern Part of Tornado
Apr 26, 2024 – Scarth, Manitoba, Canada EF3 (Aaron Jayjack)
RFD Occlusion at 0:02 and Tornado at 0:06
Rear Flank Downdraft Surge Occurs Just Prior To The Development of an RFD Occlusion and Tornado (Time-Lapse)
Aug 28, 2024 – Mound City, SD EF2 (DevinWxChase)
DRC at 1:27 to 2:37
DRC Evident In Increasing Dark Area To Left of Funnel, DRC Leading Edge Hits Circulation Exactly at Tornado Start
May 28, 2013 – Bennington, KS EF3 (Brian Barnes)
DRC at 2:40 to 3:15
DRC Reaches Ground To Left of Developing Funnel Cloud, DRC Leading Edge Hits Circulation Exactly at Tornado Start
May 28, 2013 – Bennington, KS EF3 (Henry Diehl)
DRC at 0:16 to 0:50
DRC Evident In Increasing Dark Area To Right of Developing Tornado, DRC and Funnel Cloud Lower Simultaneously
May 20, 2013 – Moore, OK EF5 (Chris Broyles)
DRC 0:05 to 0:11
DRC Passes In Front of and Obscures Right Side of Tornado Just Prior To First Intensification To EF5 (Time-Lapse)
May 3, 2015 – Anton, TX (NWS Lubbock)
Cell Merger 0:21 to 0:41
Three Cells Gradually Merge Creating One Large Intense Downdraft (Time-Lapse)
Aug 28, 2024 – Mound City, SD EF2 (Aaron Jayjack)
Cell Merger 2:56 to 3:11
Scraggly Base of Merging Cell Into Tornadic Supercell Visible at 3:03
Apr 19, 2023 – Coal, OK EF3 (Chris Broyles)
Inflow Channel 0:00 to 1:17
Inflow Channel Strongly Evident Feeding Into Mesocyclone
Mar 31, 2023 – Keota, IA EF4 (Jayden Smith)
Inflow Channel 3:50 to 5:13 (Wide Angle 4:06)
Inflow Channel Strongly Evident Wrapping From Tail at Right All The Way Around Tornado
Apr 9, 2015 – Rochelle, IL EF4 (Sam Smith)
Occlusion Downdraft 1:26 to 1:39
Occlusion Downdraft Sinking Motion on Tornado’s Edge Visible Above and To Left of Road
May 24, 2016 – Dodge City, KS EF3 (Gabe Garfield)
Occlusion Downdraft at 0:14, DRC (at left) at 0:20 and Tornado from 0:21 to 1:02
Cloud Decay On NE Side of Developing Tornado Shows Sinking Motion Likely Due To Occlusion Downdraft (Time-Lapse)
May 4, 2022 – Grow, TX EFU (Chris Broyles)
SVC 0:07 to 0:14
SVC Horizontal Circulation Evident at Far Left In Video Near Screens Edge
Aug 28, 2024 – Mound City, SD EF2 (Spencer Dant)
Meso 0:00 to 0:21 and 2:29 to 3:33
Meso Strongly Evident, Striations Visible (Time-Lapse)
May 27, 2019 – Imperial, NE (Brad Hannon)
Meso 3:36 to 4:33
Meso Strongly Evident with Striations Visible
Jun 24, 2020 – Southwest Nebraska (Freddy McKinney)
Meso 0:46 to 1:36
Low Precipitation Meso Strongly Evident (Time-Lapse)