Huntsville's tornado machine -- the undisputed highlight of the weather service's display.

Backdrop consisting of enlarged photographs of a few of Middle Tennessee's most notorious weather events.

The entire display.

Mike Davis, Information Technology Officer, guards Huntsville's tornado machine with his life.

Mark Rose, meteorologist, also poses with Huntsville's tornado machine while simultaneously thinking of ways to explain to Nashville's sister office why their tornado machine will be staying in Tennessee. (It caught fire. The van got rear-ended and the tornado machine was totaled. Security confiscated the tornado machine. We accidentally left the tornado machine at the arena, and when we went back, it was gone. We raffled it off to raise money for charity.)

Mike Davis begins showing off Huntsville's tornado machine, nicknamed the "Gordonator" after Huntsville's Meteorologist-in-Charge.

Students are awed by the violently rotating column of steam produced by Huntsville's tornado machine. The fan was cranked all the way to "F5" in order to evoke the maximum amount of awe.

Young students consider the ramifications of sticking their hands inside the vortex.

These students don't ponder. They do it. (Many adults were seen sheepishly extending a hand inside the vortex, as well.)

Students and parents continue to stop by the tornado machine. Mike and Mark were able to simulate a tornado for more than 3 hours -- longer than any previous tornado in Middle Tennessee's history.

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