The Sayler Park tornado was the most photographed of all the 148 in the Super Outbreak and Professor
T. Fujita of the University of Chicago used home movies (remember this is before the advent of home video
systems) and determined that the UPWARD wind velocities exceeded 160 mph while the HORIZONTAL wind
velocities reached 178 mph.
Note: I witnessed this tornado from an overpass on I-275 between Milford and Loveland, Ohio. The funnel at cloud base never dissipated even after the "rope stage". It touched down again briefly in Montgomery, OH, then in the Mason Ohio area. This is listed as tornadoes 43, 44 and 45 of the Super Outbreak of 1974.
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Photographer: Andrew MacGregor Looking southwest as the tornado crossed the Ohio River. | |
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Note: the funnel widens as it crosses the river, not because it is sucking up river water, but because the water vapor in moist layer over the river is condensing in the funnel as it is lifted and the pressure drops. |
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Photographer: Jay Carter from Clifton Heights Looking west as the tornado crosses the Dent and Mack areas. | ||
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| Note: The effect of surface friction, the part of the funnel in contact with the ground trails behind the upper part. Because major tornadoes occur near the rear of the cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) the sky beyond the storm (that is to the west and southwest) is bright. | ||
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| Typical of many massive tornadoes, as the Sayler Park Tornado dissipated it went through a "rope" stage. Eventhough the funnel is barely visible in the final frame, the wind is still capable of doing damage. | ||
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Photographer: Don Ohmer from the Delhi Twp. Fire Station As the tornado moves through Delhi. | ||
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Photographer: ??? Mueller | ||
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