The El Reno tornado achieved a status that changed the way chasing is conducted. The widest tornado in history, this tornado exhibited behaviour rarely witnessed by chasers. It developed as a fairly large tornado and changed direction along its initial path, increased in speed and also doubled in size in about 30 seconds! Consequently, and unfortunately, it achieved a status of being the first known tornado where chasers were killed as a direct result of the tornado. More startling was that the chasers were very experienced – one veteran of the order of 30 years experience – Tim Samaras. It is quoted that had this tornado hit Oklahoma City just to its east, it would have caused destruction on biblical proportions!
