Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This is original videotape provided by KAYS TV 7, now owned and operated by KWCH TV 12 in Wichita, of the May 10, 1985 Ellis, Kansas tornado. This was one of several significant tornadoes during a localized outbreak in North Central Kansas and Southern Nebraska.
The video was eventually used in the NOAA and National Weather Service spotter training video/film "SEEKING THE TORNADO" available here: youtu.be/JkKkJQX-es0?si=1pogfudscK_wpXtn
After the rope out of this tornado, the supercell storm continued to produce large, long track significant tornadoes between Woodruff to Agra, Kansas. Those tornadoes were documented on silent and sound Super 8mm film by Dr. Erik Rasmussen, available for viewing here: youtu.be/dTLlQ51nIM8
Video © 1985 KAYS TV and KWCH 12 Wichita, All Rights Reserved.
This is original videotape provided by KAYS TV 7, now owned and operated by KWCH TV 12 in Wichita, of the May 10, 1985 Ellis, Kansas tornado. This was one of several significant tornadoes during a localized outbreak in North Central Kansas and Southern Nebraska.
The video was eventually used in the NOAA and National Weather Service spotter training video/film "SEEKING THE TORNADO" available here: youtu.be/JkKkJQX-es0?si=1pogfudscK_wpXtn
After the rope out of this tornado, the supercell storm continued to produce large, long track significant tornadoes between Woodruff to Agra, Kansas. Those tornadoes were documented on silent and sound Super 8mm film by Dr. Erik Rasmussen, available for viewing here: youtu.be/dTLlQ51nIM8
Video © 1985 KAYS TV and KWCH 12 Wichita, All Rights Reserved.
![Storm Chasers [1996] with Matt Biddle and Mark Herndon, CBC](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NGj6KFwYJXY/mqdefault.jpg "Storm Chasers [1996] with Matt Biddle and Mark Herndon, CBC
The media circus surrounding the topic of storm chasing, storm chasers and the Hollywood blockbuster film Twister reached a crescendo in mid-1996. It seemed wherever one turned, mostly on television, were interviews with seasoned storm chasers [or those intentionally seeking notoriety] about the realities of the topic. This interview by the Canadian Broadcast Company spotlights two chasers whom were directly associated with aiding the some elements in the development of Twister, Matt Biddle and Mark Herndon.
Matt Biddle was working on his MS in geography at the University of Oklahoma and participated in Project VORTEX 94-95, as part of the Probe 3 crew. His eccentric personal vehicle, a decked out Chevy El Camino, along with his Moderate Risk + Some Fear promotional branding and storm chase highlight videotape productions of that era were all fun parts of his personality. Afflicted by numerous health ailments since birth, his determination and drive was inspiring to anyone who knew him. Matt passed away on April 10, 2018.
A tribute to Matt Biddle by Dr. Chuck Doswell can be accessed here: http://cadiiitalk.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-tribute-to-matt-biddle-my-friend-and.html
Mark Herndon signed onto the 1995-96 Twister production as a consultant and storm chaser, leading actors out on actual storm treks and guided film crews [with Biddle] to aid in capturing actual storm cinematography that was intermixed with computer simulations in the film. Herndon, an avid rock climber and self-admitted thrill seeker began chasing in the late 1980s and joined up with Biddle prior to the inception of Twister.
This CBC interview with Biddle and Herndon is an excellent representation of how storm chasing was both achieving a foothold in popular culture, yet still remained in humble territory for what was to come a decade later. In 2014, I interviewed both Matt and Mark for the Storm Chasing Anthology documentary project, but Matts health had taken a turn for the worse which made long conversations problematic. This perhaps is the best interview I am aware of that featured both Matt and Mark.
Video © 1996 CBC, All Rights Reserved. The Twister clips were furnished to media outlets worldwide for promotion of the film and are © 1996 Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment.")
