Storm-tossed Purdue weather balloon found in Ohio
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — A group of Purdue University students whose camera-equipped weather balloon vanished during this month’s Midwest tornado outbreak has its balloon back along with some amazing footage thanks to an Ohio farmer.
Purdue technology and engineering students launched the high-altitude balloon the day before Nov. 17’s deadly tornado outbreak. But howling jet stream winds swept it eastward and it crashed in a northeastern Ohio field near the town of Kalida.
The storm-tossed balloon also lost its Purdue contact information. But the farmer who found it geared up the camera and saw video of the students who launched it sporting Purdue sweatshirts.
The farmer was able to track down the students, who got their balloon back Monday night along with footage looking down on menacing clouds during the tornado outbreak.