Man Drives Hours To Propose To Girlfriend In Front Of Massive Tornado
on Jun 03, 2021 • Updated Jan 15, 2025
Usually, the threat of rain or a tornado would put a damper on a planned proposal, but one couple’s unique engagement story depended on the appearance of a twister.
During Memorial Day weekend, AccuWeather Meteorologist Tom Bedard was planning to propose to fellow meteorologist Raya Maday. The grand gesture was in the works for months, and Bedard just needed a tornado to create the perfect magical moment.
Bedard met Maday in 2016 at an annual American Meteorological Society event. Shortly after, the two were both hired by AccuWeather. A shared passion for weather was a huge connector for the couple. In a statement to Accuweather, Bedard explained:
“We’ve always been pretty heavily connected in the weather community. Even from the day we met.”
On the day Bedard planned to pop the question, he feared that the weather would not cooperate with his plan. The couple drove for several hours to chase a slight-risk storm that did not guarantee any tornados. Bedard revealed:
“We had already driven so far. I was already anxious about taking us all the way to southeast Colorado on a slight-risk day and coming back without putting a ring on her finger … I thought ‘Oh God, no, we’re going to do all this travel for nothing.'”
Fortunately, Bedard’s plan came together, and a tornado touched down. Bedard proposed as a twister spun in the distance and created a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
For more on the story, check out the engagement video here.
