I Hunted A Massive Tornado And Got Extremely Close

[@jebsonderman9093]

My house was the house that got hit at 9:21 that is also in the thumbnail. I will never forget this day. Thank you for filming it. I’ve always wanted to see footage of it hitting our house. Luckily me and my dad ran to the basement in time for us to seek shelter.

[@catty69420]

must have been a scary expirence

[@cannonball9478]

Glad you’re ok

[@greenhouse3505]

@@cannonball9478 Was just going to parrot your comment. To survive that monster was insane. Glad we don't get those monsters here in Australia. Wow!

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Wow I’m glad you guys were okay! Hopefully you are long on the way to recovery. While I know it may be tough to watch, I’m hoping this video helps add missing context as to what exactly happened.

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

Glad you're okay!

[@ReedTimmerWx]

You do such great work!

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Thank you sir! You guys pump out some incredible videos yourself!

[@theofficialnoobedbox]

nah reed knows my 2nd fav chaser?

[@Mr_doge21]

Y’all are the best chasers

[@Asorbing_asb]

@@Mr_doge21 yall are both the best storm chasers

[@georgiadavis670]

@@FreddyMcKinney When you get noticed by Reed Timmer you know your doing it right! Incredible footage! It just seems so dangerous to chase by yourself, trying to watch the tornado, watch the road, debris, film, navigate, read radar. Stay safe.😊🌹

[@BrandonCopicWx]

Freddy - Cinematic doesn't even do it justice. Your work at editing and story telling is so phenomenal nobody can even compare to it in this community. Amazing work my friend, as always, I'm proud of you!

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Hey you da man Brandon! Thank you and I'll be seeing you soon inside Helene!

[@17bear66]

I was in Helene it was scary, but at least for me nothing was as bad a Ian, thankfully my house is fine

[@Chillyvroffical]

Recently a tornado touched down a mile away

[@NichollDouglas]

HOLYYYY F WORD AT 9:21

[@justinflack5764]

​@NichollDouglas have you ever seen a tornado 🌪 before I'm just wondering 🤔 💭 okay 👍 👌 🙆‍♂️ Sr.

[@AdamLucio]

Great stuff! That was me infront of you from about 5:15-7:45. Im still working on my full doc but it wont be half this good lmao!

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Hey thanks man and I'm excited to see your documentary that day was just bonkers! I think we had very similar chases especially considering we were side by side on Lincoln too lol

[@AdamLucio]

Yes very similar! I think the primary difference was I stayed with the Lincoln cell a little longer, letting it go near Mapleton IA after the Pisgah tornado formed. Dropped south toward Minden and just let it approach while I sat near Tennant once I got a view. Just an insane day!

[@OsmiumBlaze]

Dude the cop trying to block the road to save people and everyone just going around time is too funny 😂

[@SugarMonke69]

Bro someone probably died💀

[@CorgeekWx]

​@@SugarMonke69No reported chaser deaths

[@CorgeekWx]

I almost feel bad for bro. He probably wasn't aware of amateur chasers and watching all these civilian vehicles just go toward the tornado with him unable to possibly save them thinking they don't know what their doing is kinda sad

[@lesliestiffarm38]

A great video Freddy, I remember that day, a bad outbreak day and I was working that night watching your stream. You are amazing!

[@FreddyMcKinney]

I'm glad you were able to watch the stream! That was indeed a bad day! Thank you Leslie!

[@blakeoverton7657]

I also watch the stream too

[@carleym4579]

This literally was the day I went into labor and had my son at 1:10 am the next morning on the 27th. We also got hit in the central Iowa area too that day so it sent my body into labor😊

[@debbiebarrow7557]

​@carleym4579 Late Congratulations on the birth of your son & God's Blessings 🙏🔥💜

[@MCtabst3R]

@@FreddyMcKinneyI watched this live, I was like bro if you keep driving that fast you will drive into it! I was so nervous, but entertained that day 😂

[@LVM5584]

Freddy, that’s the best Tornado I’ve ever seen filmed from a storm chaser. Incredible detail of this Monster’s life. Keep doing what you do.

[@happyoldsoul6535]

I started watching you on April 26th 2024. By the time you signed off our whole household (4 people) and my next door neighbor was watching your amazing chase video, all of us praying yelling at the TV wanting all involved to be safe. NEVER seen anything like it. Been watching your channel ever since!

[@thesimulatorguy4248]

Love stories like this. It's like how it was before everyone had a TV. I remember live aid in the UK and everyone was crowded round the TV shop windows 😊

[@v.rocky111]

That supercharger whine while chasing a tornado goes crazy 😂

[@HIPERZZ]

I was about to say, is he chasing a tornado in a hellcat 🤣

[@Maxwell-d7t]

Ik

[@ocdrums24]

Spent a minute looking for this comment 😂

[@cpirtle]

Just wanted to say thank you for keeping your videos clean and no cursing! My 4 year old is obsessed with tornadoes and loves your videos 👏🏼

[@brandonjvl1987]

Anyone else notice @ 7:59 that the graphic on the water tower for Harlan Iowa is a tornado??? Guessing the school name for the town is the twister(s).... EDIT high school name is the cyclones... Hence the water tower graphic!

[@jasonj9235]

Noticed that as well! Did a double take and had to do a rewind.

[@cosmictraveler1146]

@@brandonjvl1987 what a coincidence lmao

[@wendyboop]

Harlan Cyclones (class of ‘93)

[@jmcsquared18]

9:12 Seeing the rfd and suction vortices clearly through a transparent funnel still tearing stuff up right in front of you, I wonder if that is almost more terrifying than a full mile-wide condensed wedge. It's like, you can see that your entire field of vision is a gargantuan tornado, but it's invisible, a lot like El Reno. That is some eerie stuff.

[@nfmoments99]

I've experienced driving in a thick fog, unable to see anything is already terrifying... Couln'd imagine seeing what you said

[@Hannah7Banana]

The amount of multi-tasking this guy does is INSANE

[@OutThereVideos]

For real. Solo chasing is no joke

[@db5667]

Excellent footage! I was 8 miles from the tornado (to the north and east in Irwin, IA). Three generations of family (12) were huddled in the basement at our house on the farm and the 4th generation down the road at their farm. It was so huge we could see it work it's way from south to north in the west. I know someone on almost every road you were on in this chase. I graduated from Harlan in '79 and that Cyclone water tower pictured with a real tornado so close to it was just unbelievable! That was Harlan's middle school/high school building under that tower.

[@justie1220]

Freddy, I watched this as you were streaming it live. You have some of the most incredible storm footage on KZbin. Hands down, no contest.

[@tonytheofficer]

0:54 It impresses me there's still people that believe being under an overpass is a safe place to be around a tornado. That was confirmed years ago to be entirely false, but people still do it.

[@firstpersonducky9333]

more often than not they're sheltering from hail. its really easy to criticize with hindsight but being in hail isn't something most people are used to and don't know what to do.

[@tonytheofficer]

Hail is understandable tbh, that basically doesn't exist where I live, I think it's only happened once while I've been alive and it was like, pea sized hail that melted in the matter of minutes.

[@psamathe7419]

Freddy McKinney: A million thanks to you & everyone else who does what you do. It's a very important service. All of you are heroes!

[@paigemaddi]

Freddy... this is an incredible video! 😮 It took me right back to that day watching you absolutely dominate those storms. Some of the most amazing footage I've seen - especially 5:35, 7:00 & 9:22 Just insane. You did one hell of a job that day and putting together this epic video! 💯🤍

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Appreciate you Paige! That was definitely a top 3 tornado chase of the year!

[@MisterTwisterWX]

This may be one of the best videos I have EVER seen from a storm chaser. Props to you! #1 chaser Keep up the great work, Freddy!

[@BruceUrton]

My computer had a workout that day. I had tabs open for Ryan Hall and Max Velocity in their studios and maybe 10 chasers, including you, open on other tabs. Was a crazy day.

[@JoshuaPlays99]

I remember that like it was yesterday, it was truly wild.

[@Trike.]

Thanks for not screaming , and all they other hype other storm chasers do . Very good production, footage , and editing .

[@tornadotrx]

Incredible video. I think it's wild you're able to get these high quality of shots while also streaming and talking to chat lol.

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Appreciate you sir 🐐! I need a chase partner lol

[@Starjet270]

@@tornadotrx bro I love your videos please post again

[@WxChasing]

Really fantastic work!

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Thank you Brandon!

[@Pdstor]

Sat on the freeway and watched that thing go by, and my day had already been made four times over prior to this. With a bit of time in the rearview this is filtering out at #3 or #4 all-time after Pilger and Dodge City and (probably) Greenfield. It's ahead even of Hedrick last year, Bowdle from 2010 and the NW Omaha "jet plane in a holding pattern" wedge from a few hours earlier. What a day!

[@FreddyMcKinney]

This day ranks #1 all time for me all though if I was on Pilger or I chased Dodge City better those would rank above. Still one of the best chase days of the last decade!

[@darkzinha666]

Thats possibly the craziest and most beautiful tornado ive ever seen. Amazing footage!

[@CJB4476]

Freddy, i dont know how you can be that close to a monster tornado and props to you for getting a really good shot of it. At one point it had multiple vertices in it

[@justie1220]

His cajones are made of absolute titanium. This man has gotten some of the most incredible storm footage on the internet today.

[@goddessjennifer3254]

Freddy!! That was seriously an awesome video! I was on the edge of my friggin seat watching this. I truly forgot how intense this day was and your video just made it all come screaming back. Your calmness under pressure is remarkable … I don’t know how you did it. Great job as always, and so worth the wait!

[@17bear66]

The goat has arrived! I love your content and ever sense I was 8 I have been watching your content, the amount of courage it must take to do this is insane!

[@cactus660]

wow scary stuff! insane stormchasing + insane talent for video editing = this insane video. and 400mph wipers included 😂

[@FreddyMcKinney]

The wipers were faster then the tornado 😂

[@stormrunnermedia]

This was such an insane day, and you did an INCREDIBLE job capturing it man. Only wish we could’ve kept up with this beast

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Hey y’all stoped to check on those folks that hydroplaned which is more than commendable

[@Midnight24435]

11:20 - That insane positive lightning strike. You can hear the boom from its explosive thunder.

[@KobaltKai5215]

Phenomenal footage, truly. However, please do not ignore road obstacles at 9:32 again. You were already in the tornado at that moment, and if a subvortice shifted its course, you wouldn't have had an escap route. When a multivortex tornado becomes THAT BIG, the subvortices don't just rotate around the main circulation. 1. They pull the tornado in ANY direction, causing it to loop, double back or rocket forth (see el reno) 2. It is a sign that the mesocyclone will collapse because the air pressure is too low at the ground for the storm to be held up by the pressure differential. In that kind of situation, the whole circulation can expand by over a mile in 60 seconds, AND rapidly accelerate. The subvortices would also become entire subtornadoes, as no air pressure is pulling them toward the main circulation anymore. This also makes the entire tornado even more eratic, or even slingshot entire EF1 tornadoes in EVERY direction from the main body.

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

Very cool video, and scientifically significant. Around 04:36 forward, that’s a condensation driven tornado (conden). Its “engine” is driven primarily by condensation. Its “engine” at first is narrower than its parent mesocyclone (meso). As it progresses, its “engine” is as wide as its meso. Notice how as the tornado’s “engine” increases in size the entire meso, followed by the parent storm cell, descends lower. At 05:09 notice the strong vertical suction. This is a common trait of conden tornados. The effect from the winds of even a weak winded conden-this one is about medium strength-are magnified by the vertical suction.

[@stormcentric]

in my humblest of opinions (facts) you are an amazing chaser, journalist, editor...and above all else, human, embodying it all and more - truly God-given gifts! As you were inspired by others like RT, PH, DS, etc. YOU inspire so many now and to come!! Thank you for sharing this and while it's always painful to see people negatively impacted, the detail in which you capture events, and assist those in need...INCREDIBLE.

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Thank you sir! Can’t wait to see Storm Centric back in action! Soonnnn

[@editinqpeachy]

Great video Freddy! I remember this outbreak through memory. Keep it up Freddy!

[@seanrampton9098]

Greetings from the UK. Mate, first time I’ve checked your channel and man, that was some ride. Proper intense. As others in the comments have said, the camera work and editing is exceptional and I have to say, it was an intense and fascinating watch from the outset. Great piece of work, cinematic as someone here said. Proper edge of the seat stuff! Looking forward to enjoying more of your work and effing relieved we don’t get tornadoes like that here in the UK. Hat’s off to ya fellah! 👏👏👏👏

[@armyfallatthediscotwentyon5019]

I am terrified of tornadoes. Like im more scared of them then any other weather, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes anything. I live in Maryland so we dont see many of them but we had a 4 tornado outbreak this year and one was actually right by my house. My parents and brother kept saying we are fine, its MD its just a bad storm, it wont create a tornado near us. (Most md tornadoes are in southern md or on the shore) i was the only one taking it seriously. I watch a lot of videos like this and i knew not to mess around. Our power kept flickering and once the tornado alerts went off on our phones i flew to the basement. My mom only came down with our dog because of a big flash of lightning that scared her. My dad and brother were just chilling up stairs. Not even 20 minutes later it was confirmed a tornado had went right by us. Please take tornado things seriously and get to shelter.

[@viewer3]

I watched during your Helene live stream... Some of the coolest footage I've ever seen! Definitely a follower now! Good stuff!

[@nolls888]

Incredible footage. It always amazes me just how accurate and perceptive storm chasers can be. Even just by looking at the cloud formations and color to tell when it is safe to approach. Great work!

[@Brizynn]

I can't wait to be a storm chaser like you! This is amazing!

[@MariannaFurs]

Wedge tornadoes are most often rain wrapped, so to see one that wasnt was so cool to look at. Amazing video!

[@Becky_Davis]

My son introduced me to you that day. I was glued and enjoying the chase.

[@thomasnew8606]

You get my subscription because you turned down your wipers! And really good video quality. I look forward to watching live streams

[@TonyJones-ko3zg]

Gosh I remember this stream Freddy. it was definitely “The most insane tornado chase ever” live stream!!!🌪️🌪️

[@quentinkronberg368]

Your such a inspiration to me Freddy. Love you bro, cant wait for the hurricane intercept.

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Love to hear that Quentin you're awesome man!

[@OutThereVideos]

Great footage Freddy! I got stuck in the traffic snarl in Harlan getting to the old highway heading north. This was the craziest chase day of my life, and saw 12 tornadoes in total on 4 seperate storms that day. I saw the destruction of Minden happen in front of me earlier in this tornadoes life cycle and and it was just tragic. Thoughts and prayers go out to that town and all the folks affected that day

[@BrittanysAGinger]

I remember watching you chase this day live ❤ what an insane day 🌪️

[@ScottS-56]

I've always been interested in being a storm chaser, now I think I'll find something else to do :)

[@charliebourdo]

My man absolutely COOKED! Awesome stuff dude easily the best tornado footage I've seen!

[@LeviSWx]

This is just amazing, great job that stream was crazy!

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Thank you sir! So many tornadoes on that stream

[@coffeeBoizzz]

Incredible intercept! Amazing view point of such a large and devastating tornado!

[@LisaMac41]

Outstanding footage, Freddy! You arecamazing!

[@chantelandersen2943]

Man watching you go down what we call “old 59”…… That day was terrifying for how many of my kids were in the path before it came to us

[@Angel.Puppeteering]

Not from this country but I’m so sorry for everyone who lost their homes, scary stuff an ef4! Stay safe too Freddy! Storms are dangerous!

[@evilweeja]

Stands up an applauds .. Dude that capture / footage was EPIC ! Mother nature at her very finest ..

[@evam2232]

Freddy, this is a great video. You did an awesome job editing and narrating it. You are a wizard of editing the footage you captured. I really like how you don’t yell and s team but you let people know that this tornado was a deadly one. Well done!❤

[@stevenlornie1261]

Incredible footage. Glad you got through it safe. Hope those houses did too.

[@ChrisWx]

Amazing video Freddy, it was really crazy to see such a powerful tornado at such close range and such detail as you chased it, seeing those vortices and winds up close. Absolutely wonderful job chasing this and making this video, you rock. 💕

[@Lexi43416]

still remember the stream when i was sitting in the kitchen and i remember the exact moment when we just started praying for everyone, you did amazing work Freddy defo wont forget this chase !!

[@KuruyDgdbsjsn]

I wonder what the rental car company thinks about this😂😂😂

[@nfmoments99]

9:16 a building blown up... that is so wild. Hope everything would be ok

[@obsidianwing]

Fanstastic Work ,Freddy ! I'm Mind Blown by your Footage, esp after you went the north Route. Thats why I love following your Work and enjoy your Livestreams, no overhyping focused and not taking too much Risks. very Stunned !

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Appreciate you!!

[@dqstam7745]

Hi Freddy I love your job and also I want to be a meteorologist. Your videos are awesome and thank you for risking your life for us to make those videos. I just wanted to ask you which up are you using to spot those storms. Greetings from Greece

[@chavalamerit1492]

I love how you check on the houses and farms instead of like some other storm chasers laughing when a house gets taken out. You actually care about the community and want to help it out!

[@Multz1919]

What a chase! You managed to capture the beauty and power of the storm simultaneously. You chose your roads well too. Amazing work!

[@CeeLouSyd]

Thank you for doing this video. My family and I lost our homes in the Minden tornado that day. It's amazing watching your perspective from that day.

[@kensuzdoer]

Really well done editing, enjoyed the suspense and the camera work.

[@Regxlar]

I remember this, (this may sound goofy) but I was in a Discord server for a highly realistic storm chasing game on Roblox, and whenever this outbreak was happening they had about 100 people in the same VC monitoring this, and I hopped on to monitor it and it was absolutely awful. Nice video, Freddy.

[@ApokalyptikNM]

You mean Twisted? I played that game a few times but my phone wouldn't run that well

[@Regxlar]

@@ApokalyptikNM Yes.

[@AlittleBaconOnTheCob]

Twisted isn't realistic, it's all randomized, yes it might have alot of paramaters, but that isn't enough. To make it truly realistic it need fluid simulations and air simulations and make tornado's not scripted. There's more realistic game's out there, like Outbrk, and maybe RTS chasing. Twisted is fun though sometimes

[@WisconsinCheezeKirb5]

#1 Chase Vid since whatever year. This is absolutely immaculate. Good Job dude.

[@USA0312]

Dude I love that your videos give off the vibe the Storm Chasers series had when it was on TV, love every single one!!!

[@diannaschmidt6545]

Chasing alone. So brave. Great chase. Stayed calm & collected. Bravo 👏

[@cindydjesus-wr9ty]

Awesome video - enjoy watching your chases-great job on the videos -thanks!

[@Inara-km7ng]

That tornado hit my aunts :( their whole farm and house got hit it’s gone.

[@Heyitsvictoriaok]

I’ve been to Minden. Very small town. I remember this day, I kept calling my family every 20 secs to check on them. Tx for this video.🙏🏼

[@dmc4936]

You captured some incredibly beautiful footage of this tornado. Thank you for sharing.

[@dalemilcetich146]

Great video footage, and aerial mapping, Thanks much for sharing!

[@wintersilverrain9291]

I am gutted I missed the live of this, but goodness, I was on the edge of my seat throughout this! Insane tornado!!! I hope those affected are doing okay. Amazing work and brave...the amount of times I was touching the air brakes was funny. Great vid Freddy!

[@TitaniumTurbine]

@@wintersilverrain9291 You may know this but all the past live streams are on the “Live” tab on the channel page. 🙂

[@wintersilverrain9291]

@@TitaniumTurbine I do, but I meant live, live. So I could chat and be stunned along with everyone else as it unfolded 😀 x

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Wish you were there too but thankfully it was all recorded!

[@carlcarlo3983]

closest structure i’ve seen to the el reno, wide base with multi-vortex, extremely unpredictable

[@ryand.7650]

Absolutely incredible footage as always, dude! You've quickly became one of my favorite chasers to watch. Stay safe out there!

[@SmokinLizzos]

Watched this live, such a good one.

[@brianmarsiglia2979]

This is one of the most amazing videos I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much for posting this. I really enjoyed it.

[@staceylacey5587]

GREAT video content! THANK YOU for not Screaming through it! Just amazing footage.

[@johnmckinney4128]

Was a crazy day

[@vickiealcorn5767]

That was both cool and scary at the same time. Take care Freddy and thank you for taking us along 😊

[@sherriemurphy9561]

I remember watching that day, both amazed and horrified. I've watched you grow as a chaser over time, keep up the great work!

[@DennisGr]

your videos are absolutely worth the wait, however long that wait may be. probably the greatest compliment i can make is that i think pecos hank would enjoy them. please, stay safe, you are messing with the elements themselves and we need you to document your passion for us for many more years to come.

[@KnoxvilleNorth]

Just got done watching the live replay a few days ago, this footage is absolutely unreal I've been binging storm chasing videos and this has easily been my favorite channel, hopefully I get to catch you on your next live stream!

[@izzetcanoz]

Thank you for the quality footage. Amazing captures!

[@lordnatey8503]

Amazing video! Keep it up! ❤️ my fav storm chaser of 2024

[@MaxVelocityWX]

W video from a W sigma chaser

[@FreddyMcKinney]

Thank you sir sigma Max Velociraptor

[@CosmicCosmicus]

Bro... I just love you how you explain.. How you film everything.. How you edit.. You are AMAZING! Over 30 40 years you gonna be nr 1 în history as the best Storm Chaser! 🙏❤️ Much love from România 🇷🇴

[@DivineEmpress888]

Awesome freaking video dude. Best I've seen! Great work!

[@Tirani2]

My dude, there is such a thing as too close. Stay safe, I was watching Ryan Hall that day, and I think I remember you reporting in on the outbreak. Might have been before the collaboration though, it's been a while.

[@darkzinha666]

This is crazy man.. You do and absolutely great work, but be careful out there : )

[@jimpleace7488]

Freddy that was AMAZING footage of a shape shifting monster, wedge to cone to multi Vortices. Truly amazing footage! Be safe out there

[@shmobbin6501]

@6:27 is the most visually I've ever seen a tornado turn something into dust.

[@R3LKZz_0D]

I didn’t know shaggy from scooby doo was a tornado chaser?!

[@brianunderdahl7974]

Freddy awesome video footage, thankfully you're practicing good safety when chasing these tornadoes! Stay safe Freddy!👍

[@ODDwayne1]

Incredible footage and perfect editing man. What a day eh? 👍💯

[@Broody58]

The carousel of carnage! That was big, amazing! I've noticed close to a funnel on a few videos, the wind ripping over buildings causes this trail of condensation..looks like the buildings on fire! I'm guessing high & low pressures?, but don't quite grasp what's going on. Except it looks really unusual.