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Nelson Tucker

@tornadostudy.bsky.social

1.2K followers 130 following 56 posts

OTUS Project President. Millersville Meteorology 2026. Writer at Tornado Talk, NIST SURF 2024.

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Nelson Tucker @tornadostudy.bsky.social · Oct 17

Hi all! I'm Nelson, 22, undergrad met major, SURF student this summer at NIST, Tornado Talk writer, and OTUS Project president. Here to stay connected with our wx community and give this platform a shot. Here are a few aurora shots from the G4 last Thursday at Millersville University, PA:

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Nelson Tucker @tornadostudy.bsky.social · Aug 26

Reflecting on a truly wild, tornado-packed summer break with @otusproject.bsky.social to mark the beginning of year 23 on this planet!

youtu.be/kg7gywzHHD0?si…

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Reposted by Nelson Tucker

OTUS Project @otusproject.bsky.social · Aug 16

Our world-first night vision tornado drone intercept of the Fort Ransom, ND EF2 on June 20. Watch the *FULL* video at this link: youtu.be/g_6qMXHlsqw

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Nelson Tucker @tornadostudy.bsky.social · Aug 5

Aftermath the next day. Home across street was outside scour strip, but core context was impressive with long grass destroyed at road rise. Dirt scour & cycloidal deposits at intercept zone (bottom right image). If recovered, we can get wind measurements from drone blackbox.

Reposted by Nelson Tucker

OTUS Project @otusproject.bsky.social · Aug 4

Looking inside the powerful Spiritwood, ND wedge tornado near peak size and strength. This was our second flight into it on June 20. Watch the *FULL* video at this link: youtu.be/akQbDX-MMlo

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Nelson Tucker @tornadostudy.bsky.social · Jul 27

Potent wet microburst at Lake Anna, VA - snapped adjacent tree and power out #vawx

Nelson Tucker @tornadostudy.bsky.social · Jul 21

Saw a multi-vortex tornado this afternoon at Parmelee SD, had an @otusproject.bsky.social deployment on this

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Reposted by Nelson Tucker

OTUS Project @otusproject.bsky.social · Jul 19

Narrowly missed getting a drone inside this tornado south of Johnstown/Ainsworth, NE yesterday evening. We will be on the hunt for the next few days. Photo taken by team member @tornadostudy.bsky.social

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Nelson Tucker @tornadostudy.bsky.social · Jul 6

…were reportedly either not ready, unable, or chose to not communicate or take action until flood already hit. This article has a timeline of warnings and local government communication (Kerrville): www.npr.org/2025/07/05/n...

Here's a timeline of the catastrophic Texas floods

NPR has compiled a timeline of when local, state and federal officials posted warnings on social media as well as the timeline of events as presented by local officials.

www.npr.org

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Nelson Tucker @tornadostudy.bsky.social · Jul 6

Exactly! NWS is only PART of the warning process. NWS forecasts, warns, gives info and tools to entities

Private sector (apps, broadcast) disseminates to wider audiences

Local authorities, entities are responsible to plan, act, evac

*NWS* warnings were good!
But local leaders… 1/2

Chris Vagasky @coweatherman.bsky.social · Jul 5

Flood Watch issued yesterday at 1:18 pm.

WPC had mesoscale discussions throughout the event.

NWS issues Flash Flood Warning at 1:14 am.

NWS issues Flash Flood Emergency at 4:03 am.

NWS was on the ball.

The challenge is always getting the warning the last mile and getting people to respond.

Matt Lanza @mattlanza.bsky.social · Jul 4

Everyone making comments about DOGE and FEMA as it relates to the Texas flooding is insulting to the NWS employees working this event that were well aware of how bad this was becoming. Plenty of opportunities to use those arguments elsewhere.

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Reposted by Nelson Tucker

OTUS Project @otusproject.bsky.social · Jul 2

A peek at preliminary tornado data we are still processing. These traces are from one of the drones circling in the anticyclonic Higgins, TX-OK EF1 on May 18. The validation and quality control process takes time, but more data will be shared as we progress.

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Reposted by Nelson Tucker

OTUS Project @otusproject.bsky.social · Jun 25

Part 1 of our Spiritwood tornado flights, inside the tornadogenesis and growth of this monster. Watch the *FULL* video at this link: youtu.be/b9IicWFL0VQ