Examining Circulation Over Varying Spatial Scales for the May 31st, 2013, El Reno Tornado

The largest tornado on record occurred in El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31st, 2013. At its strongest, the El Reno tornado exhibited Doppler velocities of 135 meters per second and was a record breaking 4.2 kilometers wide. During intensification, the tornado changed quickly, including rapid widening in just over 30 seconds. Volumetric RAXPOL data was taken approximately every 30 seconds at ranges as close as 4 km, which is imperative for studying the tornado's rapidly evolving features. This paper will document differential velocity and circulation during tornadogenesis and the rapid intensification of the El Reno tornado. The incredible size of this tornado and the data collected provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the circulation over varying spatial scales.