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A large, rapidly strengthening tornado barely misses the town of Attica, Kansas on May 12, 2004. The tornado is less than 1 mile away as large freshly-fallen hailstones litter the foreground. Notice the 'clear slot', the bright area cutting into the cloud base just behind the funnel. This marks the presence of the 'RFD', or rear flank downdraft, wrapping around the mesocyclone. The formation of a RFD and its associated 'clear slot' often precede the formation of a tornado. Image is from video.

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