JULY 18, 2020 MINNESOTA: TORNADO WARNED STORM THROUGH NORTHERN TWIN CITIES METRO
Met up with Roger Hill, Rusty Nelson and the Silver Lining Tours crew in Willmar, MN as we waited for storms to initiate. Good to see them and catch up!
Storm developed further east than we were expecting. Had to blast back east towards the Twin Cities. This is the initial storm updraft looking southeast from Annandale, MN towards Brooklyn Park.
A nervous moment as we watched this wall cloud mature, driving on Hwy 14/Main Street from Coon Rapids into Blaine. Inflow right to left into the wall cloud and condensation/rotation with that small dark feature on the right side underneath the wall cloud as it was trying to produce a funnel. Glad it didn't drop a tornado in the northern suburbs!
Wall cloud on what is now a tornado warned storm in Blaine, MN.
Another shot of the wall cloud in Blaine, MN as it was tightening up and becoming better organized.
Turbulent underside of the wall cloud as it overtook us and moved to our southeast. This was as we were approaching White Bear Lake.
East of Hugo, MN the storm became even better organized. Thought it was going to produce a tornado here!
Driving back home after our chase had ended. Beautiful storm erupting at sunset over Eagan, MN.
Taken from my driveway. Love this shot of two storm updrafts approaching Farmington and gap in between!
Shot of the storm to the east of our house, lit by lightning in the evening.
Mesoscale discussion issued at 3:12 PM CDT for central and southern Minnesota into northwest Wisconsin. 95% chance of watch issuance! Strong instability nosing into the southern half of Minnesota. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1264.html
Severe thunderstorm watch issued at 3:55 PM CDT. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2020/ww0382.html
The next mesoscale discussion issued at 6:15 PM CDT as one lone tornado warned storm was trucking through the northern Twin Cities metro (which we were on), while new storms were developing west and north. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1267.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 8:36 PM CDT for most of northern Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan. Severe storms moving east into Wisconsin. This was near when we called off the chase north of Hudson, WI and let the storms go. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1268.html
Severe thunderstorm watch issued at 9:40 PM CDT ahead of the developing broken squall line now across western Wisconsin. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2020/ww0383.html
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JULY 13, 2020 MINNESOTA: WAITING AROUND FOR A GOOD EVENING STORM
An intense rain and hail core on our initial storm to the southwest of Ottertail, Minnesota.
Vertical shot of the storm updraft above the intense rain and hail core.
Wall cloud forming on the storm with quick right to left condensation into the base.
Vibrant colors at sunset as the storm approached us near Deer Creek, Minnesota.
Magnificent color and storm structure at sunset!
Looking back to the east the other direction from the previous photo. Love the color of the blue sky and the backlit clouds from the setting sun.
Mesoscale discussion issued at 3:52 PM CDT for northwest Minnesota ahead of the occlusion and low. We were just outside of this MD on the southern end near the triple point. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1214.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 7:34 PM CDT as new severe storms were expected to form during the evening ahead of the cold front. We were on the far northern end of this MD near Ottertail watching a strong storm towards sunset. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1217.html
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JULY 8, 2020 MINNESOTA: AN EPIC EF4 TORNADO INTERCEPT AND #100 OF MY CHASING CAREER!!
We were fortunate to be right on this storm at the initial updraft at it was punching through the CAP southeast of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Stopped for 15 minutes to gas up and use the restroom and BOOM! the storm went up fast right on the warm front and ahead of the triple point.
Wall cloud formed 20 minutes after the initial updraft went up. When this happens and you already have a lowering in a favorable storm environment, you know something special could happen. This was looking from the north near Dalton as the storm was moving northeast.
Low contrast here but this was the initial tornado touchdown looking south from Dalton on Hwy 82 shortly after the last photo.
Driving southeast on Hwy 82 as the tornadic circulation strengthens and the tornado “plants”. Perfect road to continue safely southeast as the tornado moves to the left (northeast) across I-94 at this point.
Another shot of the tornado as we stopped near Hwy 82 and 130th St.
Drove right up to the tornado as it slowly moved across Hwy 82, unfortunately hit a structure, and started throwing a lot of dirt in the debris field! Tornado was moving from our right and into the photo and left out of the photo. Did not want to turn left here as there was concern we would end up too close to the tornado path.
UNBELIEVABLE!! At this point I knew we were witnessing a monster. Intense tornado with large debris field. We could hear the roar of the tornado at this point and smell all of the dirt, trees, and debris being chewed up and lofted. Can count on one hand the times I have experienced such exhilaration of the chase.
Absolutely stunning tornado as we stood watching in awe.
Large pieces of debris being thrown here as the tornado appeared to be fully wrapping up under the parent circulation.
One of my favorite storm chasing photos I have ever taken here. Would be hard-pressed to ever get a shot like this again. This print is blown up large and hanging on my wall! Perfect spot to capture the white tornado with excellent contrast with no precipitation and sun illuminating everything.
Tornado started moving away from us as we watched from a distance while a rainbow forms and points towards the tornado base. Interesting white debris field here.
Beautiful scene with a white tornado in the distance and a rainbow in the foreground. Such an awesome view to behold! This was somewhere north of Ashby, MN as we continued chasing the tornado to the northeast.
Tornado starting to occlude as the storm condensation base erodes but still going strong northwest of Ashby, MN. Terrific contrast and debris cloud with rainbow.
Wall cloud wrapping up with the white tornado in the distance.
Look at the structure!! No rain around the tornado, wall cloud and mesocyclone as you’re able to see the tornado and twisting updraft overhead.
Majestic white tornado starting to rope out between Sewell Lake and Johnson Lake, MN.
Incredible and jaw dropping rope-out at the end of this tornado life cycle!
National Weather Service Review of the EF-4 Tornado: https://www.weather.gov/fgf/2020_07_08_Tornadoes
Mesoscale discussion issued at 3:03 PM CDT. Notice the triple point of the low, trough and warm front where our tornadic storm formed just to the east. Storm rode that warm front with the enhanced low level shear and ingested rich boundary layer moisture pooling along the boundary. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1142.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 6:17 PM CDT as multiple tornadoes have occurred, with our EF4 ongoing with our lone supercell across west-central Minnesota. Storm right on the northern end of the instability axis. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1145.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 7:58 PM CDT as new storms, a couple that did produce additional tornadoes, were forming along the warm front. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1147.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 9:51 PM CDT as the severe weather risk continues as storms congeal. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1149.html
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JUNE 28, 2020 MINNESOTA: TORNADO WARNED SUPERCELLS AND A FEW FUNNELS
First supercell of the day, storm base and intense core near Wells, MN.
Intense core as the storm crept closer and right at us near Wells, MN.
Wall cloud organizing on the same storm as we watched directly out ahead.
Organized, rising scud finger that looked like a funnel but was not. However, wall cloud/lowering was rotating at this point.
Rising scud finger still present with the wall cloud becoming more ragged near Austin, MN.
Legit funnel cloud here as we watched the storm near Grand Meadow, MN
Funnel cloud still there in the middle of the wall cloud and easy to identify inflow tail condensating right to left into the action area.
Decent structure here of the storm base of a tornado warned supercell near Spring Valley, MN
Beautiful wall cloud on a tornado warned supercell in the hill country near Preston, MN
Rotating wall cloud on the storm near Preston, MN. Closest this storm came to dropping a tornado through its life cycle!
Mesoscale discussion issued at 3:42 PM CDT for southeast Minnesota and north-central / northeast Iowa. Remnant MCV moving through the area and may produce a few funnels and a brief tornado. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1039.html
Tornado watch issued at 5:15 PM CDT for southeast Minnesota and a couple counties in northeast Iowa. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2020/ww0315.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 7:20 PM CDT as the severe threat continues. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md1044.html
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JUNE 8, 2020 NEBRASKA: MEAN TORNADO WARNED SUPERCELL AT DUSK
Mammatus on the northern storm as we were approaching after crossing the dam at the Missouri River near Pickstown, SD.
Approaching from the northeast on the farthest north severe thunderstorm in a broken line through east-central Nebraska. Can see a lowering here where the mature wall cloud is wrapping into the mesocyclone.
Severe warned supercell near Dustin, NE as we were driving south to chase a stronger storm. Terrific structure!
Approaching the stronger supercell to the south near Atkinson, NE. This storm soon becomes tornado warned.
Wall cloud in the notch of this storm on the northern side of the storm base where the mature mesocylone was occluding.
Dual mesocyclones looking to our south towards Atkinson, NE
Another view of the wall cloud trying to tighten up. Inflow tail and fast right to left condensation into the storm at this point. Hard to tell if there’s anything that is touching down in there due to all of the dirt and generally low visibility.
Screaming inflow to our backs into this wall cloud at this time. This is when it looked the most interesting in regards to potentially producing a tornado. Was still tornado warned at this point.
Very interesting. Rapid inflow right to left into this rotating wall cloud. Still can’t see what’s going on in there.
Lots of dirt being pulled into this storm with screaming fast inflow from our backs.
End of the chase during the evening as a strong and intense line of heavy rain and hail as approaching. Looking northwest from near Bristow, NE.
Mesoscale discussion issued at 3:16 PM CDT. 80% chance of watch issuance along and ahead of the stalled boundary from eastern South Dakota into central Nebraska. We were positioned in Mitchell, SD on the northern end of where thunderstorms were expected to develop. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0882.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 7:16 PM CDT for central Nebraska where a localized tornado threat existed. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0885.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 9:13 PM CDT as severe storms were moving north along the front into South Dakota. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0887.html
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS AND VERIFICATION:
JUNE 7, 2020 MINNESOTA: TORNADO WARNED SUPERCELLS NEAR THE CANADA BORDER
First severe thunderstorm of the day near Karlstad, MN. Heck of a core here!
Decent structure on the storm near Donaldson, MN. Inflow scud condensing on the right side.
Rotating wall cloud wrapping up quickly near Lake Bronson, MN.
Got up close to the wall cloud northeast of Lake Bronson, MN with a nub funnel trying to form in the middle. Very fast condensation right to left into this wall cloud.
Funnel in the middle as the wall cloud tightened up.
Another shot of the funnel becoming more ragged here but the white wall cloud in front of us tightening up.
Tornado warned storm, again near Donaldson, MN at the end of the day. Lots of interesting features/motion underneath this base.
Mesoscale discussion issued at 2:00 pm CDT. 95% chance of a tornado watch being issued. Severe thunderstorms expected to develop with a tornado threat, especially along the warm front. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0869.html
Another mesoscale discussion issued further southwest into South Dakota and northern Nebraska at 2:04 pm CDT. Another watch likely to be issued ahead of the low and trough. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0870.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 5:55 pm CDT with tornado threat increasing. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0874.html
Mesoscale discussion update issued at 6:00 pm CDT for the severe thunderstorm watch area in South Dakota. Mentions hail and wind being the main threats but notice on the storm reports that all the tornadoes were in this area! https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0875.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 8:42 pm CDT. Image describes what’s going on… starting to merge into a cluster/QLCS while more discrete cells remain in our area we were chasing in far northwest Minnesota. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0877.html
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JUNE 6, 2020 SOUTH DAKOTA: OUTRUNNING A DERECHO!
Storm developing and rolling off the northern end of the Black Hills of South Dakota near Sturgis.
Shelf cloud approaching very quickly on Highway 34 east of Sturgis. Bear Butte on the right.
Looking northwest towards Bear Butte as the intense squall line and shelf cloud was overtaking it.
Beautiful vertical shelf stretching the skyline over the open prairies of western South Dakota.
Interesting to see all of these notches in the shelf cloud and rotation signatures on radar as the derecho attempted to overtake us.
Beautiful shelf still moving on us fast near Union Center, South Dakota.
Interesting feature here where there was strong rotation and a lowering underneath the base to our northwest. Sure looked and felt outflow dominant.
Got ahead of the storm enough to see the updraft above the derecho. Was cool to see these updrafts above the derecho staggered down the line.
Derecho really started to become less linear as it moved into west-central South Dakota and form what looked like mesocyclones with noticeable rotation within each segment along the front on radar.
Enjoying the storm with my beautiful wife, MaryLynn! Looking north into the Cheyenne River Reservation.
Beautiful end to the chase day as we reached Pierre, South Dakota just ahead of the derecho.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 1:27 PM CDT noting a 95% chance for a severe thunderstorm watch to be issued due to widespread damaging winds with a significant bowing line of storms moving across the region. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0854.html
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 3:33 PM CDT as more isolated supercell storms were possible to form ahead of the derecho moving across Colorado and Wyoming. Storm tried to get going and we even chased one storm from the Black Hills north but it ended up dying due to the capped airmass. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0856.html
New severe thunderstorm watch issued at 5:45 pm CDT until 1:00 am CDT as the derecho was starting to approach western South Dakota. Wind gusts up to 80 mph and large hail events up to 2” in diameter. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2020/ww0264.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 8:29 pm CDT as a new severe thunderstorm watch needed to be issued ahead of the fast moving derecho. We stayed out ahead and managed to get to Pierre before it hit! https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0861.html
New severe thunderstorm watch issued at 9:10 pm CDT after the last mesoscale discussion and ahead of the derecho. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2020/ww0265.html
Mesoscale discussion issued at 11:34 pm CDT highlighting the area of the greatest wind threat. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0863.html
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JUNE 2, 2020 MINNESOTA: TORNADO WARNED SUPERCELL
Tornado warned storm near Janesville, Minnesota. Condensation being pulled into the updraft base. Could have easily been mistaken for a funnel cloud.
Not too often that you see this kind of awesome structure in Minnesota!
Interesting feature here as there was clear dirt/debris being lofted and a funnel overhead. Tough to tell if this was a tornado or gustnado on the leading edge of the outflow.
Barley dodging an intense hail core!! We blasted ahead to stay out of this core but it was close.
Prolific scud bomb near Ellendale, Minnesota. This was called in as a tornado believe it or not. Definitely not a tornado but ominous looking for sure!
Beautiful end of the day and mammatus near Stewartville, Minnesota.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 3:52 p.m. CDT detailing the increasing coverage of thunderstorms and risk for hail and damaging winds as a cluster of storms progresses southeast into a higher unstable airmass. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0783.html
Severe thunderstorm watch issued at 4:40 p.m. CDT, valid until 12:00 a.m. CDT. Main threats included significant wind gusts to 75 mph and large hail up to 2” in diameter! https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2020/ww0239.html
Mesoscale discussion issued 5:32 p.m. CDT as ongoing severe thunderstorms continue to track southeast along the cold front into the greater instability. Another watch was issued ahead of these storms into southern Wisconsin. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2020/md0785.html
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
MAY 27, 2020 TEXAS: STORM CHASE FROM ABILENE TO SAN ANTONIO
Daytime cloud to ground strike on our initial supercell near Coleman, Texas.
Storm struggling with dewpoints only in the upper 50’s and lower 60’s. High based and somewhat outflow dominant.
Shelf cloud on outflow dominant supercell approaching Fredericksburg, Texas.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 12:08 p.m. CDT for risk of severe hail and wind with developing storms.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 12:44 p.m. CDT for anticipation of a Watch to be issued soon in advance of developing storms.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued at 1:45 p.m. CDT valid until 9:00 p.m. CDT. Primary threats include... Widespread large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3 inches in diameter likely. Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely. A tornado or two possible.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 3:40 p.m. CDT for intensifying storms to produce severe wind and hail threats through 5-6 p.m.
Mesoscale Discussion Issued at 5:05 p.m. CDT outlining potential for another watch to be issued downstream of the original watch.
The next Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued at 5:20 p.m. CDT as severe storms continue to intensify and move southeast towards San Antonio.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 7:11 p.m. CDT for the storm we were on indicating hail size to increase as it approaches the San Antonio metro area.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 9:35 p.m. CDT for large hail and strong wind gusts with the storms moving over and near the San Antonio area. We got out ahead and bailed north on I-35 to get ahead of the hail before it could reach the interstate at the end of our chase day.
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
MAY 24, 2020 KANSAS: VIOLENT, DANGEROUS SUPERCELL AND MICROBURST
Initial intercept of an intense supercell storm coming out of southeast Colorado. Warned for 70+ mph winds and ping pong ball size hail!
Beautiful structure on this mean looking storm!
Possible tornado under the updraft base but could easily be concentrated area of rear flank downdraft winds coming around the south side of the mesocyclone.
Microburst in the center of the image descending to the ground.
Closer view of the microburst quickly descending. I bet this thing produced nearly 100 mph winds when it hit the ground.
Beautiful storm! Looking northwest towards the forward flank core.
Nature’s vacuum! 50 mph inflow winds to our back being sucked into this storm. Notice all of the dirt being pulled into the updraft region and up into the storm.
Terrific storm structure near Hugoton, Kansas. WHAT A BEAST
Getting dark later in the evening as the storm rages on near Hugoton, Kansas.
Awesome structure and starting to throw out some lightning!
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 2:15 p.m. CDT. We were in Garden City and initially thinking of staying east on these storms but decided to blast west towards the intense storm coming out of Colorado.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 2:28 p.m. CDT. This area was really drawing our attention as the short range guidance was indicating one intense supercell rolling out of southeast Colorado.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued at 3:45 p.m. CDT for the area we were targeting.
Small Mesoscale Discussion issued at 7:06 p.m. CDT for our storm moving into southwest Kansas.
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
MAY 22, 2020 TEXAS: INTENSE SUPERCELL AND 2 BRIEF TORNADOES ALONG THE RED RIVER
Initial updraft of the storm breaking the cap by late afternoon near Haynesville, Texas.
Intensifying storm starting to anvil out, looking above our heads as lightning was becoming more frequent.
Initial wall cloud forming as the storm begins to mature and track east along the Red River between Haynesville and Burkburnett, Texas.
A pair of funnels underneath the updraft.
Tornado warned storm kicking up dirt on the south side of the bowl lowering near Burkburnett, Texas.
Brief tornado underneath bowl funnel. Notice concentrated area of dirt being picked up right in the middle of the picture.
Another shot of the tornado and funnel above that is more noticeable than the previous image. Clear concentrated rotation within this dirt plume.
Concentrated rising scud into the storm base and some structure in this shot, taken near Thornberry, Texas.
Nice structure on this storm as we got further out ahead near Thornberry, Texas.
Another very good structure shot!
Watching this wall cloud attempt to organize near Petrolia, Texas.
Shot of the well organized inflow tails into this storm, right to left, and a wall cloud still intact. Some semblance of a funnel or bowl lowering underneath.
Second brief tornado, noticeable by the debris cloud underneath the funnel and wall cloud near Petrolia, Texas. Lucky to get a view here as this area is hilly with a lot of small trees and brush.
Two wall clouds here, one in the foreground and background. Latter produced the tornado that was shown in the previous photo. Thought the one in front could do the same thing.
One more shot of the matured wall cloud and storm towards the end of the day as it was about to overtake us.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 12:55 p.m. CDT with expectation of thunderstorm initiation within the next hour. Interestingly enough, thunderstorm initiation occurred much later and closer to 5-6 p.m. as the cap held and initial towers could not sustain.
Mesoscale discussion issued at 1:25 p.m. CDT for developing severe weather threat on northern edge of the highest CAPE axis.
Initial Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued at 1:25 p.m. CDT.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 6:20 p.m. CDT indicating threat of tornadoes for 1-2 hours with the storm we were on just south of the Red River.
New Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued at 6:55 p.m. CDT.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 9:26 p.m. CDT for ongoing severe weather threat. We were forced to go east to I-35 and head back north to Oklahoma City to get past the more intense supercells.
Mesoscale Discussion issued at 11:56 p.m. CDT.
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
MAY 21, 2020 KANSAS: STORM STRUCTURE OF THE YEAR!
Wall cloud starting to organize on the first storm of the day in Holly, Colorado. Soon after became tornado warned.
Storm chasing 2020 COVID-19 style! Wall cloud and funnel look-alike inflow tail in Holly, Colorado. Storm is tornado warned at this point and the sirens were blaring.
Another view of the wall cloud on the tornado warned storm over the southern part of Holly, Colorado.
Nice structure on the storm as it was moving over Holly, Colorado and threatening to overtake us.
The second supercell was even better! Stacked plates and broad meso on the storm near Ulysses, Kansas.
Another shot of the supercell near Ulysses, Kansas.
It just gets better and better! 3rd supercell of the day near Satanta, Kansas. Incredible structure!
Just awesome. Epic storm structure and popping cloud to ground lightning near Satanta, Kansas. What an experience!
Double cloud to ground lightning strikes in one shot… yes please.
Incredible storm continues to amaze.
Mammatus and stacked plates on a mothership over the wide-open Plains of southwest Kansas. Can’t be beat.
Funnel cloud emerging on the tornado warned storm near Satanta, Kansas.
Funnel cloud just to the right of the lightning strike nearly touching down.
Funnel cloud still holding together just above the light from the farmhouse in the distance. What a structurefest of a day!
Mesoscale discussion issued at 2:20 p.m. CDT for development of storms within the next few hours and a risk of large hail and damaging winds.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued at 3:15 p.m. CDT.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued at 9:50 p.m. CDT ahead of the squall line surging southeast into northwest Oklahoma.
Mesoscale discussion issued at 9:10 p.m. CDT indicating the primary severe weather threat for the next few hours.
Mesoscale discussion issued at 11:28 p.m. for the enhanced severe weather threat with the squall line surging southeast.
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
MAY 20, 2020 WYOMING AND COLORADO: SEVERE STORMS & LIGHTNING SHOW
Had a great day chasing storms in eastern Wyoming and northern Colorado! Best supercell storm of the day was near Keota, Colorado during the evening. This storm put on an incredible lightning show for us. First day guiding for http://www.silverliningtours.com/
Nice cloud to ground strike on our initial storm in southeast Wyoming. I think this was on the storm near Chugwater.
Tough to see but another CG out of our initial storm of the day near Chugwater, WY. Turbulent skies.
Taking shots of the storm.
CG’s out of the storm and a couple of separate storm bases near Keota, CO.
Another arcing CG lightning strike out of the storm as we positioned out ahead near Keota, CO.
Watching the storms and taking shots at sunset.
Beautiful lightning near Keota, Colorado. All following lightning shots are from near Keota. Awesome display after sunset during the evening.
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JULY 1, 2019 MINNESOTA: LONG-LIVED TORNADO WARNED STORM AND SEVERAL FUNNELS
Beautiful tornado warned storm near Clarks Grove, Minnesota. Well defined inflow (beaver) tail into the storm at the base of the updraft.
Wall cloud better defined on the storm just east of Clarks Grove, Minnesota. Lots of rotation and rising motion into the wall cloud at this point. I thought it was going to produce a tornado right in front of us.
Another shot of the merry-go-round portion of the wall cloud and solid inflow as noted by the tail on the right. If you watch the video, you can really see the strong rotation.
Funnel cloud forming on the left side of the wall cloud just east of Clarks Grove, Minnesota.
Nice clear slot punching in on the left side of the wall cloud as the downdraft and inflow combination was becoming better aligned. This is a classic look before a storm produces a tornado, which it did a short while later in Hollandale.
Another funnel tightening up nearly right overhead near Hollandale, Minnesota.
Yet another funnel cloud forming near Lansing, Minnesota. This was around 5 miles south of my hometown of Blooming Prairie. Notice the well defined clear slot on the back edge of the wall cloud on the left…textbook.
Another funnel cloud (right in the middle of the photo) looking to the east from near Lansing, Minnesota.
Looking directly up at the storm updraft towering to the heavens.
Wall cloud and inflow tail still going strong as the supercell continues to cycle near Waltham, Minnesota.
Last wall cloud of the day before we bailed and headed home. This was east of Sargeant, Minnesota.
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JUNE 29, 2019 NORTH DAKOTA: AWESOME STRUCTURE ON TORNADO WARNED STORM
Finally about to intercept a tornado warned supercell that had already been raging for the past few hours in central North Dakota. This is looking southwest from near St. Anthony, North Dakota.
Terrific structure on this storm with multiple inflow bands and crisp, rock hard updraft looking southwest near Flasher, North Dakota.
Absolutely jaw dropping storm structure!
Some of the best storm structure of the year for me here! Awesome site to the twisting and turning storm updraft.
Edited iPhone shot.
Incredibly, the storm went from looking amazing to completely dying within 10 minutes. I’ve never seen a tornado warned storm that looked so great die off this fast.
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
JUNE 4, 2019: MINNESOTA SEVERE STORMS AND SHELF CLOUD
Shelf cloud approaching, looking west from near Lonsdale, Minnesota. Nice easy drive from my house to intercept this severe warned storm!
The storm definitely still had some inflow on the right side where the gust front butted up against the forward flank core, as indicated by the notch as well as winds into the storm at my position.
Shelf cloud about to overtake me!
Awesome undulatus asperatus display as the storms moved over our house in Farmington!
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
MAY 26, 2019: BRIEF TORNADO NEAR WILEY, CO; FUNNELS, SUPERCELLS AND HAIL
Nice looking view of our first storm of the day and the open landscape of eastern Colorado near Lamar. I like the wavy look to the clouds and the virga as the atmosphere was moistening up during the early afternoon.
Confirmed tornado near Wiley, Colorado! The first storm we intercepted produced this tornado quickly as it interacted with the warm front.
The same tornado as above starting to lift and rope out at this point.
Tornado roping out north of Wiley, Colorado.
Another low funnel that may have touched down but not confirmed to the north of Big Bend, Colorado. This was the same storm that produced the tornado earlier.
Our second tornado warned supercell of the day with a beautiful wall cloud developing to the south of Lubers, Colorado. Lots of chasers on this storm!
Wall cloud tightening up to our west near Lubers, Colorado.
This was the closest that this storm came to producing a tornado as the rotating wall cloud really tightened up here just to our west.
Driving north towards Eads, Colorado the storm had a very low-hanging wall cloud that could have easily produced.
Larger view of the wall cloud to our north as we drove on highway 287 towards Eads, Colorado.
Caught up to the storm near Eads, Colorado and were able to drive right up to the rotating wall cloud.
After driving through the forward flank hail core, we passed to the north of a beautifully structured wall cloud just to the east of Eads on highway 96. This was one of, if not the best wall cloud that I saw all year in 2019!
We got a little further east of the wall cloud towards Chivington, Colorado and continued to view the rotating wall cloud and rain curtains wrapping around the hook of this tornado warned storm.
Tight wall cloud/funnel just to our south near Brandon, Colorado. Nearly produced a tornado!
One wall cloud in the foreground and you can see another wall cloud wrapped in rain in the distance near Sheridan Lake, Colorado.
End of the day and chase near Sheridan Lake, Colorado as the storm was starting to become outflow dominant as noted by the shelf cloud. Thereafter, we began the long all night drive back to Minnesota. Well worth sticking around an extra day for this chase!
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
MAY 25, 2019: FUNNEL CHASE ALONG THE COLORADO, OKLAHOMA, KANSAS BORDER
Cell phone shot of a lightning strike on our initial storm near Dumas, Texas.
Rotating wall cloud and scud fingers rising up into the base with several inflow bands right to left near Sturgis, Colorado.
Beautiful storm in Johnson City, Kansas, approaching from the southwest. Big hail core about to overtake us before we quickly got out of there.
Funnel cloud south of Johnson City, Kansas. Was quite persistent and a bit of a surprise being on the storm coming up from our south and not our initial storm we were on!
Another shot of the funnel cloud as we were flying south of Johnson City, Kansas trying to get a closer look.
Looking west from Big Bow, Kansas at another storm dropping a lowering and interesting rising scud underneath the main updraft on the tail end storm. Never did anything but this was interesting to see at this point!
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOKS:
MAY 22, 2019: 3 TORNADOES IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA
Tornado #1 forming west of Okmulgee, OK. Notice the horizontal funnel at the cloud base to the right of the wall cloud!
Another shot of the tornado forming west of Okmulgee, OK. Lots of motion and rotation here as you can see in the video above.
Tornado #2 looking directly west from an overpass in Okmulgee, OK. This tornado appeared to be more substantial and longer lasting than the first.
Wider shot of the tornado moving left to right, directly west of Okmulgee, OK.
Roger Hill and the Silver Lining Tours gang taking in a rapidly rotating wall cloud that is approaching our position.
Merry Go Round wall cloud currently dropping a few vortices on the road in front of us. Tornado #3!
Closer, cropped photo of one of the vortices spinning up under the wall cloud right in front of us. An amazing site!
STORM REPORTS:
STORM PREDICTIONS CENTER OUTLOOKS:
CHASE LOG, PROVIDED BY RICH HAMEL:
Day 9: May 22nd, 2019
Yet another day with big possibilities as moisture poured into Oklahoma with 70-degree dewpoints along a frontal boundary stretching from about Wichita Falls, TX to Joplin, MO and beyond. The models put the best sheer profiles in the area of Tulsa, OK so we started making our way down there from Salina, KS, intending to stop in Bartlesville, OK.
We proceeded down south of Wichita on I-135, stopping for a rest break just north of the Oklahoma border. Once there, analyzing the road flooding situation on the Oklahoma DPW website, we realized we had a problem: there was no way to get to Bartlesville from where we were as all of the roads were flooded out! Because of that we adjusted our target to Tulsa and continued south, and then east on Rt. 412 all the way to Tulsa where we stopped for lunch and waited for storms to initiate.
We stayed in Tulsa for about an hour and a half as storms began to initiate to our south and grow in intensity. Soon there were multiple severe storms to our south showing signs of rotation and we headed south to intercept. We headed south on Rt. 75 intending to get to Beggs and wait for our target storm to come to us, but as we closed in the storm went tornado warned and there were tornado sightings so we sped down to Okmulgee with a west option that would allow us to drive right up to the updraft. We made it through Okmulgee and headed west on Rt. 56 into the woods around Okmulgee Lake in heavy rain as we skirted the front-flank core. As we blasted west past Nuyaka and got around the precipitation core, the big, beefy updraft became visible and it was clear we were going to meet it right on the road to our west. After the road made a dogleg south, we turned west again and were driving right towards the ground scraping wall cloud just to our west. As we closed further, in the distance through the woods a dark mass crossed the road about 2 miles west of us. Tornado! We drove right up to where it had crossed the road and there it was in the woods just north of us, a multi-vortex tornado slowly meandering away to the north, shifting from multi-vortex with tendrils skipping along the ground to a brief cone with more complete condensation. We observed the tornado for about 5 minutes and then decided we needed to get east and north to keep up. We blasted east then north up Dentonville Rd. towards Nuyaka, with the wall cloud to our northwest. But we were running out of road and not closing the distance much, when it became clear that the next storm to our south behind this one was interfering with our target storm and also taking over the show. We broke off and turned back south to Rt. 56.
When we got to Rt. 56 and turned east, it became clear that we had to get east to Okmulgee in a hurry because the meso-cyclone of our new, tornado-warned target was going to get there at just about the same time we were! I did some quick calculations as the lead van had lost radar and decided we would make it with just a few minutes to spare. We flew east in the rain and when we got to the outskirts of Okmulgee, we navigated around the perimeter of town by heading south on S. Madison Avenue, then East on E0970 road and finally turning south on Rt. 62. Almost immediately upon making the turn south, the road went up a hill providing a good vantage point, and off to our west was a large cone tornado traveling through the woods. Tornado #2! about 30 minutes after the first one on the previous storm. This one had formed on the occluded meso of our new target storm and as we watched it to our northwest, the new meso to our southwest looked like it might tornado at any time as well, and soon produced a big funnel as the cone tornado faded off into the rain to our north.
We had to get back north to prevent ourselves getting cut off by the storm so we turned around again, going north, then east out of Okmulgee on Rt. 62 towards Morris with the meso coming right up behind us. Just west of Morris we pulled over and observed as the rapidly rotating wall cloud crossed the road only a mile or so behind us. As it crossed the road several brief suction vortices appeared skirting across the ground towards cloud base, tornado #3! After this brief tornado lifted, we headed into Morris and then north on Rt. 52 and drove right up to the mesocyclone as it headed north-northeast right in front of is. It had clearly lost some focus though and a new tornado was not yet imminent so we followed north, then turned east briefly on E0940 Road to get a view, but saw that he wall cloud was disorganized, so we got back on Rt. 52 north then turned east on Rt.16 as we continued stair-stepping.
The storm was moving rapidly away from us to the northeast as we reached the junction of Rt. 16 and Rt. 64 and off to the northeast we saw a white elephant trunk tornado in the distance. Tornado #4 of the day! This one was pretty far distant though and moving away. We continued east into Muskogee and north on Rt. 69 but it was clear we weren’t going to catch the storm.
Being behind the storms without much opportunity to catch up and having had our fill, we called off the chase and turned south back to I-40, keeping an eye on storms to the south of OKC in case they should become worth chasing. They never did, though a severe storm did hover about an hour west of our hotel most of the night. We eventually ended the chase and headed to OKC to spend the night.
Miles for the day were 555.1 for a trip total of 3627.3