Storm Chasers | Tornado Alley | 1

American Innovations

Wondery

Steven Johnson, History, Kids & Family, Education For Kids, Science

4.6 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 May 2021

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

No extreme weather phenomenon fascinates us more than tornadoes. For most of human history, very little was known about how these graceful yet violent columns of swirling air formed or behaved. Then, in the 1950s, a teenager from North Dakota began chasing them, and a scientist from Japan began studying them. Together, they started a movement.

Listen to new episodes 1 week early and ad free, and access exclusive seasons of American Innovations with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/innovations.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Vonics Shoes - Right now you can enjoy FREE SHIPPING at vionicshoes.com with promo code: INNOVATIONS.

Monday.com - Visit monday.com for your free two-week trial.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hey, Prime members, you can listen to American innovations, add free on Amazon music, download
0:06.0	the app today.
0:15.6	It's May 25, 1965.
0:18.9	26-year-old David Haudley drives through the fields of southwestern Kansas, peering at
0:24.1	his windows every few seconds to check the cloudy skies.
0:27.6	He's on the hunt for tornadoes.
0:30.7	The forecast this morning seemed promising, but so far nothing.
0:35.1	He glances down at his camera on the front seat beside him, hoping he'll get a chance
0:39.3	to use it.
0:40.7	The radio pulls him back to Earth.
0:42.7	This is a Ford County radar weather report.
0:45.6	A severe weather warning has been issued for Ashland, cold water and medicine lodge.
0:49.6	The understorms with large hail and high winds are expected between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
0:54.0	local time.
0:55.0	Yes!
0:56.0	Now, it's on.
0:57.0	Haudley accelerates down the Tulane Highway and scans the flat horizon, trying to spot
1:02.9	where the winds are whipping.
1:04.5	He sees cumulonimbus clouds building to the south, and the familiar cottonball shapes of
1:09.8	amatas clouds just beyond them.
1:12.4	All good signs.
1:13.9	Haudley's been chasing tornadoes for 9 years.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -1361 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.