The skies over Colorado turned into a breathtaking — and terrifying — spectacle on June 13, 2020, when a massive tornado tore through the plains, sending residents and storm chasers scrambling for cover and cameras. The dramatic event was captured in stunning detail by Ashley Ryan, whose video quickly went viral, mesmerizing millions around the world.
The footage opens with dark, rolling storm clouds swirling ominously over the open landscape. Within moments, the funnel begins to form — twisting, growing, and reaching down from the sky until it makes full contact with the ground. The sight is both awe-inspiring and humbling: a perfect, wide tornado spinning violently, sweeping across the fields with unstoppable force.
Eyewitnesses reported feeling the rumble of the earth and the roar of the wind long before the storm reached full strength. The tornado’s size and definition amazed even veteran storm watchers, with its structure appearing textbook-perfect — a smooth funnel, clearly visible from miles away, set against the eerie green-gray sky often seen before severe storms.
Ashley Ryan, the videographer behind the viral clip, managed to capture every second from what appeared to be a safe, though shockingly close, distance. Her calm voice can be heard over the roaring winds, providing a sense of scale and reality to a moment that feels almost cinematic. Many online viewers couldn’t help but ask: Would you have gotten that close?
Meteorologists later confirmed that the storm system responsible for the tornado formed under ideal conditions for severe weather — warm, moist air rising from the Gulf meeting the cool, dry air descending from the Rockies. Tornadoes are not uncommon in this region during late spring and early summer, but few are captured so clearly and dramatically.
Despite the tornado’s size, reports indicate that it caused relatively minor property damage and, remarkably, no serious injuries. Most residents had ample warning thanks to early weather alerts and the vigilance of local storm spotters.
The viral video quickly became a reminder of both the power and beauty of nature. In a world dominated by digital content, few moments manage to capture such raw, unfiltered reality — where fascination and fear intertwine in every frame.
As one commenter perfectly summed it up under Ashley Ryan’s post:
“It’s one of those things you want to see once in your life… but from a lot farther away.”
