During the May 3, 1999, tornado outbreak, the News 9 helicopter was in close company with the titanic supercell that produced the F5 tornado which struck central Oklahoma. The pilot positioned the craft so the photographer could capture the absolutely incredible scene. Most will agree, the view was captivating as well as terrifying.

After a special television show concerning May 3, I received a telephone call from a researcher in Norman. His brother, while watching the show, had seen a small flash quite high in the storm. The next day in the forecast center, the man reviewed video with me.

What did he expect to find? I soon found out. There on the video was a flash of something moving into the wind. It lasted one-thirtieth of a second.

The researcher had no explanation but admitted the same event had been still-photographed from the ground. Also, from old video a few other similar episodes had been uncovered. What was that mysterious flash? Other than it was not common lightning, no one knows.

• Story originally published by:
The Oklahoman | Gary England - Chief Meteorologist, KWTV NEWS 9 - Aug 8 2001

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