BILLINGS- The National Weather service issued a tornado warning Saturday night for Northeastern Montana for an area near Poplar, in Roosevelt County.
While confirmation of an actual twister touching down is still pending, a Michigan-based storm chaser seized the rare opportunity to head to Montana for a chance at a glimpse.
In the process, he captured some breathtaking images of the storm.
Jaden Pappenheim told MTN News that the tornado warning in Poplar will be a memorable event for him.
“It was an incredible experience,” he said.
Not only did he witness outstanding images in the sky as the thunderstorm developed above Montana and into North Dakota, but he also engaged with the locals during the storm.
“Truly an amazing experience,” he said. “It’s only happened to me a few times where the live stream attracted a local audience.”
He travels the country during storm season but always goes the extra mile whenever there’s a chance to witness something in Montana.
“Ever since I started chasing, I’ve always loved Montana and North Dakota,” said Pappenheim.
Chasing storms for five years and with over 50k social media followers, he mentioned that during Montana’s tornado watch, his live stream had as many as 900 views at its peak.
As for the storm itself, Pappenheim did not see a tornado touch down, but he understands why the warning was issued.
“There were many sheer funnels along the forward gust front, and I think an emergency manager likely saw one of those funnels and reported it as a tornado, leading to the confirmation,” he explained.
Interviewed on Sunday afternoon, Pappenheim was already leaving Montana and heading to Minnesota to chase another storm.
But he expressed his eagerness to return if another tornado warning is issued in Montana.
“Just an incredible experience.”
