Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Late May 1996 found many storm chasers, meteorologists and media crews barnstorming across the Great Plains in search of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. The twist, pun intended, was that Twister has just been released in theaters that very month and drew a higher amount of people out in search of tornadoes in the United States. This is a full chase day from one of the better known events of that period, a rather dusty series of tornadoes from Elkhart to Rolla, Kansas along with some large hail on May 31, 1996.
Jim Leonard was a well known and highly regarded tornado and hurricane chaser during this period. His knack for being in the right place at the right time, occasionally too close for some, often drew worldwide media to be shuttled about the Plains in search of severe weather. This was one of those particular days. A BBC film crew was along for the ride. This was also one of the first attempts to launch an remote controlled video camcorder affixed to a mini helicopter, the predecessor to modern day drones, for the BBC and Pioneer Pictures weather production. The atmosphere delivered on and made for a very memorable storm chase day for those that experienced it.
Enjoy!
Videography © 1996 Jim Leonard, All Rights Reserved.
Late May 1996 found many storm chasers, meteorologists and media crews barnstorming across the Great Plains in search of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. The twist, pun intended, was that Twister has just been released in theaters that very month and drew a higher amount of people out in search of tornadoes in the United States. This is a full chase day from one of the better known events of that period, a rather dusty series of tornadoes from Elkhart to Rolla, Kansas along with some large hail on May 31, 1996.
Jim Leonard was a well known and highly regarded tornado and hurricane chaser during this period. His knack for being in the right place at the right time, occasionally too close for some, often drew worldwide media to be shuttled about the Plains in search of severe weather. This was one of those particular days. A BBC film crew was along for the ride. This was also one of the first attempts to launch an remote controlled video camcorder affixed to a mini helicopter, the predecessor to modern day drones, for the BBC and Pioneer Pictures weather production. The atmosphere delivered on and made for a very memorable storm chase day for those that experienced it.
Enjoy!
Videography © 1996 Jim Leonard, All Rights Reserved.
