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Witness History: Chasing the world’s biggest tornado

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Chasing the world’s biggest tornado

24/05/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Chasing the world’s biggest tornado

In May 2013, the widest tornado ever recorded hit the US state of Oklahoma

In May 2013, the widest tornado ever recorded hit an area close to the US city of El Reno.

On 31 May 2013, a huge tornado hit an area close to El Reno in the US state of Oklahoma.

It was the widest tornado ever recorded and produced extreme winds of more than 400 kilometres an hour.

Eight people were killed, including three storm chasers. 

One of the people tracking the storm was Emily Sutton, a meteorologist with KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City.

She’s a member of the station’s storm chasing team and was caught in the tornado. 

She tells Rob Walker about the impact that day had on her and other storm chasers.

Archive: KFOR-TV/Nextstar Media Group

(Photo: Cars damaged by the El Reno tornado. Credit: Joe Raedle via Getty Images)

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