By Tim McGill, Tim’s Weather World, WGN, Chicago

The record breaking outbreak of tornadoes last week shows in some ways how far we have come in understanding these storms and also how far we need to go.   There was a time when forecasters were not allowed to issue warnings for tornadoes because of the panic many feared would follow.  A brave, young meteorologist at WKY-TV in Oklahoma City knew better when he issued the first-ever televised tornado “alert” in 1952.   Chicago’s very own, Harry Volkman was tipped off about a tornado heading towards Oklahoma City by a nearby Air Force base and decided to take matters into his own hands.  You can read about his account of this event and other stories from his illustrious career in Harry’s new book, “Whatever The Weather: My Life & Times As A TV Weatherman.”  You can get a copy by directly sending an email to Harry at harryvolkman@gmail.com.

NPR has in interesting post about the history of forecasting and even trying to prevent tornadoes.  Here is a quote: 

“Interest in New World tornadoes began in July 1643 when John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts and an avid weather watcher, gave an eyewitness account of an abrupt gust of wind that moved a meeting house and felled a tree — killing a passerby.

Though this is the first known report of a tornado in America, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the government didn’t mount a serious study of tornadoes until the 1880s.” 

According to the article, a French inventor came up with the “Turpin Tornado Extinguisher”.  The 125 foot high cylinder was designed to be placed in the path of a tornado.  Propeller like arms would spin from the strong winds and the friction they produced would eventually create enough heat to explode the explosive material inside the device.