Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Hodograph is now a daily forecast tool to digitally plot vertical wind shear from one level to another or by way of simulated soundings. In 1988 it was a relatively new piece of technology introduced at most National Weather Service forecast offices and used for aiding meteorologists in forecasting rotating storms and potential tornadoes. This video was recorded by David Hoadley, the first "interstate" storm chaser in modern 20th century US history at the former Amarillo National Weather Service forecast office, several years before NOAA modernization and consolidation of various offices around the United States.
This video is an excellent visual reference of how early hodographs were just starting to be integrated into daily forecasts by way of the old NOAA AFOS computer system [Automation of Field Operations and Services], along with exactly how most storm chasers in America obtained "fresh" morning weather data to set a course for potential storm observations later in the days/weeks ahead. Amarillo happened to be one of the more "chaser friendly" offices in the 1980's through mid-1990's, well before the ease of internet and mobile data became a thing post 1997.
More information on the Hodograph via NWS Louisville:
weather.gov/media/lmk/soo/Hodographs_Wind-Shear.pdf
Video recorded and provided by David K. Hoadley, © 1988.
The Hodograph is now a daily forecast tool to digitally plot vertical wind shear from one level to another or by way of simulated soundings. In 1988 it was a relatively new piece of technology introduced at most National Weather Service forecast offices and used for aiding meteorologists in forecasting rotating storms and potential tornadoes. This video was recorded by David Hoadley, the first "interstate" storm chaser in modern 20th century US history at the former Amarillo National Weather Service forecast office, several years before NOAA modernization and consolidation of various offices around the United States.
This video is an excellent visual reference of how early hodographs were just starting to be integrated into daily forecasts by way of the old NOAA AFOS computer system [Automation of Field Operations and Services], along with exactly how most storm chasers in America obtained "fresh" morning weather data to set a course for potential storm observations later in the days/weeks ahead. Amarillo happened to be one of the more "chaser friendly" offices in the 1980's through mid-1990's, well before the ease of internet and mobile data became a thing post 1997.
More information on the Hodograph via NWS Louisville:
weather.gov/media/lmk/soo/Hodographs_Wind-Shear.pdf
Video recorded and provided by David K. Hoadley, © 1988.
![Wrath of God: 1974 Super Outbreak Tornadoes [Documentary] 1999](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WMnuLOf9mSg/mqdefault.jpg "Wrath of God: 1974 Super Outbreak Tornadoes [Documentary] 1999
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the devastating Super Outbreak of 148 tornadoes in 18-hours across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, Southeastern United States and Southern Ontario, Canada on April 3-4, 1974. It was the most widespread and vastly studied mega tornado outbreaks in the 20th century, elapsed in April 2011 by an even larger outbreak over many of the same geographic areas.
Numerous documentaries, television/cable programs, and many videos found on YouTube discuss the event in assorted detail. In 1999, Towers Productions produced this 45-minute documentary for A&E Home Video and The History Channel. Part of The Wrath of God series, it was one of the more comprehensive ever produced, and complemented a segment on the Roar of 1974 included in the Target Tornado program by The Weather Channel in 1994. While producers of this program took some visual liberties with assorted tornado stock footage; from a combination of meteorological overviews, eyewitnesses and survivor perspectives, this remains an excellent in-depth overview for anyone interested in learning about the event.
Further reading can be found here via the National Weather Service @NWSWilmingtonOH: https://www.weather.gov/iln/19740403
Remastered from videotape and presented in 1080p high definition.
© 1999 Towers Productions, The History Channel. All Rights Reserved")
