Local storm chaser records EF-4 tornado

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The National Weather Service said an EF-4 tornado touched down in Hattiesburg, Mississippi Sunday night .

FOX10 has shown you video and pictures of the monster storm.

One of the videos, however, was taken by a local storm chaser.  

John Sibley, who lives in Mobile, said he has been chasing after severe weather since he was old enough to drive.

He said what began as a hobby with a weather radio and map, turned into his full time job 12 years later.

Sibley made the trip to Hattiesburg, Mississippi Sunday morning, knowing that severe weather was en-route.

He waited till about 5 p.m. when the monster twister touched down.

“It was just so photogenic,” he said. “Normally tornados, south of I-20, are rain-wrapped. That means you can’t see them. There was hardly any rain on this and I could see it for miles.”

Equipped with his storm-truck, lights and sirens, and three different cameras, one of which streams live on the web, Sibley caught all of mother nature’s fury.

He said his first reactions were shock and awe.

 “Hooooly cow! It's huuuuge,” said Sibley. “There were roofs being ripped off of houses. Entire brick buildings were leveled that were reinforced with steel. Cars were flipped over and power poles were tossed across parking lots.”

Check out his video

Sibley said he doesn’t encourage the public to chase storms; it is a dangerous business after all.

He said he has been freelancing for news stations and weather organizations across the country and takes his job very seriously.