Tornadoes from Space animation.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) spacecraft have been developing in one form or another since 1974. The precursors, SMS-1 in May 1974, and SMS-2 in February 1975, blazed the trail. The first official GOES satellite, GOES-1, was launched in October 1975. They are operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NASA is responsible for research and development, and later procurement of spacecraft.

The GOES system is now highly developed. Their information is used routinely by weather stations across the country and around the world.

Above is a beautiful capture from the government's weather satellite system of the tornadoes that formed over Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi on April 27, 2014. There were literally dozens of tornadoes listed that day.

It all looks benign and peaceful from space. Not so much on the ground.

From the NASA Youtube page:

This animation of NOAA's GOES-East satellite data shows the development and movement of the weather system that spawned tornadoes affecting seven central and southern U.S. states on April 27-28, 2014. Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

The video is stunning - and lethal.

2020