Online Video Guide

On May 3, 1999, one of the most powerful tornadoes ever recorded carved a path of complete destruction near Oklahoma City. To scientists, the supertwister held sobering lessons about the future for rapidly expanding cities in tornado-threatened areas. Most tornadoes form suddenly and with little warning. But now meteorologists are on the verge of a breakthrough that may solve the puzzle of how these killer storms spawn and where they are likely to strike. NOVA follows stormchasers as they probe the tornado's deadly secrets. The program features noted researchers Joshua Wurman of the Center for Severe Weather Research in Boulder, Colorado, and Howard Bluestein of the University of Oklahoma--fellow stormchasers who have perfected the art of tracking down tornadoes with instrument-laden vehicles designed to gather data from as close to the churning vortex as possible. Also included is Lou Wicker of the National Severe Storms Laboratory, who is creating computer models in collaboration wit