KEOTA, IOWA WEDGE TORNADO - March 31, 2023

#Tornado touched down near #Keota, #Iowa in the southeastern part of the state and quickly grew large, eventually becoming a scary wedge shaped tornado. This tornado was rated EF-4 by the National Weather Service.

[ninjalanternshark]

Steady camera and no annoying commentary. Love it.

[arcxx]

Absolutely some of the best quality tornado footage. It's amazing how from just the right distance it looks so calm, peaceful, and like its so slow moving. But as it gets closer you realize the opposite is true.

[Peter_forister]

Amazing footage. This is an instant classic in the world of stable, calm, and unbroken tornado footage. Congrats on a well-executed chase!

[xyzct]

Your audio is so calm that one can hear Reed screaming from another state.

[joegopher]

I've watched a lot of tornado videos and this was really really well done. So many times people get in the way by trying to narrate the story instead of just letting the picture tell the story. It's much more powerful. Well done.

[Izumi-spfp]

Second only to Pecos Hank. And he is a well-known tornado chase celebrity.

That was extraordinary "playing chicken". I truly did not expect you to stay in place for that outbuilding to disappear into the advancing rotation. And then to see all of its disintegrated pieces whirling around. I was like whoa! Not only is this an awesome video of its own, but it is the very first video from this outbreak that is filmed in 2160p.

Somebody wrote earlier "instant classic". This is truly amazing. You were so fortunate to be positioned where you could make a quick getaway. And even then for a few moments, I was like, "Oh oh, can he get away from this?" And as others here in the commentary have noted before me, the video is silent of commentary, stable, calm and unbroken. Only the sounds of nature can be heard as the roar gets closer and closer. A new benchmark of tornado imaging. A tour de force of chasing footage by which all other tornado chase footage, going forward should be measured. Even Pecos Hank!

[le_th_]

I feel so bad for these farmers....I can't even imagine losing your home PLUS your livelihood PLUS your personal items PLUS all your animals: heartbreaking.

[kimberlybettis]

I have lived in north central Iowa my whole life and have seen a lot of tornadoes (the '76 Jordan tornado was the worst). This one is truly a sight to see! If you are able to get close enough for audio, the sound is absolutely terrifying! It makes you realize the extent of power that sucker has (like a massive freight train coming at you)! I drove along beside a tornado once going in the opposite direction, after it swiped my wipers, side mirror, and hub cap I decided to hit the gas pedal!! Thanks for your mutual love of storms/tornadoes. Extreme weather is a reality and every year gets crazier! : } *** interesting info about the Jordan tornado as reported by the NWS "The tornado destroyed virtually every house and business building in the community, but all residents survived. The tornado was accompanied by an F-3 anticyclonic tornado two miles to the southeast. One unusual aspect of the F5 cyclonic tornado and F3 anticyclone tornado was the simultaneous right turn made by each.[7] Dr. Ted Fujita, the originator of the Fujita tornado intensity scale, said the tornado which hit Jordan was one of the most intense and destructive he had ever studied"

[davidca]

This tornado looked really wild, the white band that circled it, the sub vortexes shooting out the sides, and it kept morphing and almost breathing like its a living being. Great footage.

[benshotyou]

such great quality, no screaming, no obnoxious talking or debating during the chase. Just straight forward footage of mother nature at her finest. Thank you sir for your service!

[mstalcup]

The most stunning, 4K video of photogenic, violent tornado I've ever seen.

[skidaddle]

I could not look away. I was soooo hoping it wouldn’t take out that huge farm / ranch complex - and then it swallowed it up. I imagine all the livestock that were likely ‘sheltered’ in there - a total loss. So very sad for these people to lose EVERYTHING.
Also thank you for not continuously commenting and allowing this to just play out in all its terrifying power.

[mitchellerickson]

The way that house just disappears into the circulation....absolutely insane.

[jimjimgl]

What a miracle of perfect timing for you. Daylight and a rain-free vortex. Really this is what most people imagine when they think of tornados. And props to the stable video skills.

[Whatever_fu]

Beautiful work, no panic no shouting, very well done.

[Hotrodmaster]

It's incredibly unsettling how calm that is... you know what I mean? No rain, no lightning... it's just there.

[ketchumifucan]

What beautiful terrible beast of a storm. Stay safe. Thank you for everything you do.

[bayareakid]

Thank you for not hollering & screaming through the entire thing. Very professional & excellent photography. Was actually watchable. Prayers to all affected by this horrible event.

[howlinwulf]

This is absolutely amazing for a person who lives in the hills of KY now.
I was across the street in 1974 and watched one of the worst tornados in Ohio tear the whole town to bits.
I do believe it was an f5.
It had cars mobile homes trees and scared me so bad I couldn't move .
I was 6 years old.
My mother had my sister in her arms and I was beside her looking out the window and it tore up stuff 50 feet across the road there.
Still remember the feeling!!!

[rongenung]

This is one of the best tornado videos I have ever seen. I used to live in southern Minnesota and saw the sky like this, but never a funnel on the ground growing in size and intensity. This actually scared me. Excellent job. Thank you---and thank God you were OK.