TVS Hall Of Fame
Overall TVS Hall Of Fame | Gate-to-Gate Hall Of Fame
This is a collection of the strongest Tornado Vortex Signature (TVS) velocity signatures that I have observed. The ones displayed here are not necessarily at adjacent gates, but the maximum radar-indicated inbound and outbound velocities at a small enough scale to be considered a TVS. The top TVS signatures that are gate-to-gate are located here. I am sure that this is not all-inclusive since I have not looked at the radar data for all good candidate tornado cases. If you know of some other cases that might be on this list, let me know.
Besides strength of rotation, there are other issues the influence the radar signature, such as radar sampling, radar dealiasing, radar resolution (which has changed over time as radar improvements have been made) and distance from the radar to the storm which influences the beam width as well as the height of the radar beam. There are some cases where it is somewhat subjective if the signature is a true signature orsuffers from improper dealiasing, but I made the best subjective decision that I could.
Although some of the higher-end tornadoes have multiple TVS signatures at different that would make this list, I only include the strongest TVS for each tornado.
Thanks to David Ewoldt who has helped me look for these events, as well as Bryan Smith and Rich Thompson who have helped find candidates while working on our somewhat indepenedent research project.
| # 1: Delta V: 250.3 knots (Vrot = 125.15 knots)
624 pm CDT 2013 May 31
Radar: KTLX (Twin Lakes/Oklahoma City OK)
Tornado: EF3 El Reno OK
Note: GR2 unfolded to 298.7 kt delta-V (233.6 gate-to-gate). May be that high.. but at least 250.3 kt
| # 2: Delta V: 249.1 knots (Vrot = 124.55 knots)
520 pm CDT 2011 April 27
Radar: KBMX (Birmingham AL)
Tornado: EF4 Tuscaloosa-Birmingham AL
| # 3: Delta V: 244.8 knots (Vrot = 122.4 knots)
749 pm CDT 2008 May 23
Radar: KDDC (Dodge City KS)
Tornado: EF3 SW of Greensburg KS
| # 4: Delta V: 244.2 knots (Vrot = 122.1 knots)
954 pm CDT 2007 May 4
Radar: KDDC (Dodge City KS)
Tornado: EF5 Greensburg KS
| # 5: Delta V: 240.2 knots (Vrot = 120.1 knots)
420 pm CDT 2011 April 27
Radar: KBMX (Birmingham AL)
Tornado: EF4 Cordova AL
| # 6: Delta V: 237.6 knots (Vrot = 118.8 knots)
825 pm CDT 2004 May 22
Radar: KOAX (Omaha NE)
Tornado: F4 Hallam NE
| # 7: Delta V: 234.7 knots (Vrot = 117.35 knots)
531 pm CDT 2010 May 10
Radar: KTLX (Twin Lakes/Oklahoma City OK)
Tornado: EF4 Lake Draper/SE OKC OK
| # 8: Delta V: 233.5 knots (Vrot = 116.75 knots)
550 pm CDT 2015 May 16
Radar: KFDR (Frederick OK)
Tornado: EF3 Elmer OK
| # 9: Delta V: 228.3 knots (Vrot = 114.15 knots)
610 pm CDT 2013 May 19
Radar: KTLX (Twin Lakes/Oklahoma City OK)
Tornado: EF4 Norman-Shawnee OK
| # 10: Delta V: 226.3 knots (Vrot = 113.15 knots)
1212 pm CDT 2013 April 11
Radar: KGWX (Columbus AFB/Greenwood MS)
Tornado: EF3 Shuqualak MS
| # 11: Delta V: 223.4 knots (Vrot = 111.7 knots)
1023 pm CDT 2007 May 4
Radar: KDDC (Dodge City KS)
Tornado: EF3 Trousdale KS (post-Greensburg)
| # 12: Delta V: 221.5 knots (Vrot = 110.75 knots)
829 pm CDT 2014 June 17
Radar: KFSD (Sioux Falls SD)
Tornado: EF3 Coleridge NE
| # 13: Delta V: 219.5 knots (Vrot = 109.75 knots)
444 pm CDT 2011 May 24
Radar: KTLX (Twin Lakes/Oklahoma City OK)
Tornado: EF5 El Reno-Piedmont OK
| # 14: Delta V: 214.7 knots (Vrot = 107.35 knots)
1137 pm CDT 2007 May 4
Radar: KDDC (Dodge City KS)
Tornado: EF3 Macksville-St. John KS
| # 15: Delta V: 212 knots (Vrot = 106 knots)
655 pm CDT 2011 April 27
Radar: KBMX (Birmingham AL)
Tornado: EF4 Ohatchee AL-Cave Springs GA
| # 16: Delta V: 209.5 knots (Vrot = 104.75 knots)
1058 pm CST 2021 December 10
Radar: KHPX (Fort Campbell KY)
Tornado: preliminary EF4 Woodland Hills TN - Mayfield KY - Dawson Springs - Bremen
"Note: Still being investigated. GR2 unfolded to 260 knots gate-gate and 266 knots overall
| # 17: Delta V: 209.3 knots (Vrot = 104.65 knots)
429 pm CDT 2020 April 12
Radar: KDGX (Jackson MS)
Tornado: EF4 near Collins MS
| # 18: Delta V: 208.8 knots (Vrot = 104.4 knots)
416 pm CDT 2011 April 27
Radar: KHTX (Hytop/Huntsville AL)
Tornado: EF4 Pisgah-Flat Rock-Higdon AL-Trenton GA
| # 19: Delta V: 207.7 knots (Vrot = 103.85 knots)
836 pm CDT 2012 April 14
Radar: KICT (Wichita KS)
Tornado: EF1 Amorita OK - Danville KS
| # 20: Delta V: 207.1 knots (Vrot = 103.55 knots)
511 am CDT 2017 January 21
Radar: KMOB (Mobile AL)
Tornado: EF2 Gilbertown AL
| # 21: Delta V: 205.5 knots (Vrot = 102.75 knots)
333 pm CDT 2011 April 27
Radar: KGWX (Columbus AFB/Greenwood MS)
Tornado: EF5 Hackleburg - Phil Campbell AL
| # 22: Delta V: 203.8 knots (Vrot = 101.9 knots)
755 pm EST 2012 March 2
Radar: KRLX (Charleston WV)
Tornado: EF3 Saylersville KY
| # 23: Delta V: 203.6 knots (Vrot = 101.8 knots)
415 pm CDT 2011 April 27
Radar: KGWX (Columbus AFB/Greenwood MS)
Tornado: EF5 Smithville-Shottsville MS/AL
| # 23: Delta V: 203.6 knots (Vrot = 101.8 knots)
315 pm CDT 2011 April 27
Radar: KHTX (Hytop/Huntsville AL)
Tornado: EF4 W of Arab AL
| # 25: Delta V: 202 knots (Vrot = 101 knots)
638 pm CDT 2009 June 13
Radar: KFDR (Frederick OK)
Tornado: Developing EF2 Stonewall County TX
| # 25: Delta V: 202 knots (Vrot = 101 knots)
515 pm CDT 2021 March 25
Radar: KBMX (Birmingham AL)
Tornado: EF3 Greensboro-Centerville-Columbiana AL
| # 25: Delta V: 202 knots (Vrot = 101 knots)
415 pm CST 2021 March 13
Radar: KAMA (Amarillo TX)
Tornado: EF0 Armstrong County TX
| # 28: Delta V: 199.1 knots (Vrot = 99.55 knots)
840 pm CDT 2008 May 23
Radar: KDDC (Dodge City KS)
Tornado: EF0 NE of Ellis KS
| # 28: Delta V: 199.1 knots (Vrot = 99.55 knots)
428 pm CST 2015 December 23
Radar: KNQA (Millington/Memphis TN)
Tornado: EF4 Holly Springs MS-Selmer TN
| # 28: Delta V: 199.1 knots (Vrot = 99.55 knots)
712 pm CDT 2013 May 27
Radar: KUEX (Hastings NE)
Tornado: EF3 Esbon KS
| # 31: Delta V: 198.9 knots (Vrot = 99.45 knots)
544 pm CDT 2011 May 22
Radar: KSGF (Springfield MO)
Tornado: EF5 Joplin MO
| # 32: Delta V: 195.2 knots (Vrot = 97.6 knots)
738 pm CST 2021 December 10
Radar: KNQA (Millington/Memphis TN)
Tornado: preliminary EF4 Monette AR - Samburg TN
| # 33: Delta V: 194.3 knots (Vrot = 97.15 knots)
1022 pm CST 2017 February 28
Radar: KVWX (Owensville/Evansville IN)
Tornado: EF3 Crossville IL - Fort Branch IN
| # 33: Delta V: 194.3 knots (Vrot = 97.15 knots)
1214 pm CDT 2010 April 24
Radar: KDGX (Jackson MS)
Tornado: EF4 Yazoo City MS
| # 35: Delta V: 193.3 knots (Vrot = 96.65 knots)
716 pm CDT 2011 May 22
Radar: KINX (Inola/Tulsa OK)
Tornado: EF3 extreme NE Delaware County OK
| # 36: Delta V: 193 knots (Vrot = 96.5 knots)
636 pm CDT 2019 May 28
Radar: KEAX (Pleasant Hill MO)
Tornado: EF4 Linwood KS
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