Storm Chasing USA 2008

[NZstorm]

Take care out there Foggy.

The exploding line must look good from somewhere like Dodge City.

[Manukau heads obs]

wow!
thats the biggest high risk area I have seen for some time!

[NZstorm]

First tornado warning out in Kansas. Yesterday the SPC issued 127 tornado warnings!

Looks interesting around Grand Island way.

[Willoughby]

Yes, giving up on the squall/clustered cells in Kansas and heading back north into York Neb. area

[Glasses fogged up]

all the very best, Foggy, and co-chasers. I know it can be wild out there, so yes take care. Enjoy this last leg (week).

[spwill]

Have a great finish to your trip foggy, like the lightning photo's.

[jamie]

wow these things are moving!

I havnt seen anything to make me feel stupid about not going yet. Yes there has and is alot of severe weather but not the best for chasing.

[gllitz]

Not one, but TWO PDS have been issued for this outbreak today...let's hope these storms don't kill anyone today and people get the warnings in plenty of time....

[Manukau heads obs]

news stations over there are saying it could be like another 1974 outbreak

[jamie]

at the moment things appear to be being choped apart by the insane shear

[Manukau heads obs]

isnt that what I eluded too some days ago (about the windspeed being too strong and tearing the storms apart)?

[jamie]

although isnt it that too much wind and the storms get ripped apart too much?

You sure did. Very glad i didnt make the trip as SLT had a fustrating day with out flow dominant stroms yesterday and have just called it quits today with storms moving too quik and being ripped apart. I saw a strom moving at 68knots before
I hope Foggy has been able to catch one of these storms that are like an express train and get some nice pictures.

[NZstorm]

windspeed being too strong and tearing the storms apart)?

There is a nice line of healthy convection there. The issue I think is the lack of directional shear. Always looked like it could be an issue, not enough turning of the lower level winds. Also the early initiation of 1pm was a sign of trouble, when storms popped up so easily it means discrete supercells are less likely.

[Manukau heads obs]

sure is one heck of a long and strong looking squall line now!!

[Willoughby]

We (like many others) busted big time today! Kept retargeting from 1pm and in the end didn't see squat apart from a shower from a decaying line of storms as we pulled up for some celebratory Subway.

You guys must be feeling pretty chuffed for not deciding to go.

[Manukau heads obs]

thats mother nature for ya
yes, in the end good choice not to go j-me-h!

[Willoughby]

Reed Timmer in the end called it "The Bust of the Century!" on his website

Anywhom, targeting just a bit west of Des Moines, Iowa today where there are incredible dewpoints (25C in some areas) and veering winds set to increase later this afternoon. SPC has upgraded the risk to MODERATE.

VERTICAL SHEAR PROFILES OVER THE AREA SHOW FAVORABLE LOW LEVEL
VEERING/INCREASING WITH HEIGHT AND PARAMETERS FAVORABLE FOR
SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT. FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE MLCAPE VALUES OF
3500+ J/KG AND RATHER LOW LCL VALUES SUGGESTING A RISK OF TORNADOES
/SOME STRONG/...ALONG WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL.

[Glasses fogged up]

Foggy, from where are you intending to board that other plane, or are you enjoying driving that much haha

[TokWW]

Anywhom, targeting just a bit west of Des Moines, Iowa today where there are incredible dewpoints (25C in some areas)

Oh man, that's just where my friends are... and he's an arborist and tree pruner and remover, looks like he'll have more work coming out his cellphone than he knows what to do with... hope they are ok!

[NZstorm]

Looks like it was an active day near the moderate risk area with 57 tornado reports!

[Willoughby]

Pretty cool chase day in far-northern Iowa. (Chase terrain is excellent also - much like eastern Neb.)

Headed north from Des Moines and we decided on intercepting the strong storms below the MN border which had some great potential seeing the exploding Cb tops from afar. Cell east of the tail-end cell over Fertile west of the I-35 started to hook for a bit and met quite a strong rotating wall cloud with it, but somethings prevented a tornado at that stage (probably a lack of inflow). As we followed the wall cloud eastwards across the I-35 noticed a small gustnado on our right and kept with it for a couple of minutes.. got pretty close to us in the end! Was developing into a tornado possibly we thought for a few seconds. Gave up on that one as the wall cloud turned sour after some 15 minutes and targeted the tail end. That didn't look all good either so headed into Mason City where a new wall cloud formed (probably where we missed that tornado!) Stayed there and had a beautiful sunset with incredible crawlers lighting up the sky from dusk.





Last chase day on the plains tomorrow!

Looks like it was an active day near the moderate risk area with 57 tornado reports!

Yes! Southern Chicago was the hardest hit today... strong tornado ripped through an urban area

Check out this video from Adam Lucio!

[TokWW]

Fab photos as always Will! Still hot and humid there?

[Willoughby]

Fab photos as always Will! Still hot and humid there?

Before the thunderstorms it's very humid and muggy, but post-frontal is almost always sunny, warm with low humidities.

Iowa to Indiana have been hit pretty hard of late with some pretty nasty flooding everywhere from all these continuous clustered tstorms moving through!
News: http://www.desmoinesregister.com

Had a bust yesterday in southern Iowa (storms congealed into a big line) and leaving the plains from Omaha right now

[Manukau heads obs]

have a good trip back Foggy

[Glasses fogged up]

Maybe we get to see some pictures from .. San Francisco, like a nice sky (line)? Just to round it off nicely?