- 2006 CONVECTIVE FIELD STUDY A
Meteorology 385: Severe Storm Study
5/19/06 to 5/29/06
(Chase 13A – Official Log)
Day 1
Finally finished with technical difficulties at 10:10
Discussion: Heading for Rolla, Missouri. We have reservations. CAPE high, SPC predicts activity in SE Missouri. Moisture is not good, but day 2 outlook looks good for chasing in Kansas. So we will head to Missouri and go W.
Departing at 10:19, towards Merrillville on 30, all cars copy. Switching channels in hopes of alleviating interference in CBs, doesn’t work
10:35 – decide to stop to fix Pilot antenna. We manage to fix it without stopping, and are taking I-65 S, then 10 W.
11:10 – ID nudist colony; Eddy clarifies consequences of expired membership.
11:15 – Question: how far to Rolla in a straight line?
Car 1: (Asked) Car 2: 342 Car 3: 323 Car 4: 340 Car 5: 100
Answer: 321
11:40 – Virga at 2 o’clock from position (on IL 17)
11:41 – turn onto 57 S.
12:00 – update: outlook is still the same; model is overestimating values. Still heading toward St. Louis and intending to decide to go W or S from there.
12:35 – Lunch/gas in Rantoul.
1:00 – Back on the road.
1:05 – Eddy to Bart: Do you have an AARP card? Response: No, but I do have an American Association of I’m-going-to-kick-your-ass card. *collective ‘ooooohh’ from other cars*
1:10 – note that more will happen in the west in the next few days; high expectations for middle Missouri
Anemometer – What should we name it? Suggestions: Anne, Wendy/Windy
1:50 – Exit for 51 S, then turn onto IL 48.
2:00 – Enter town of Bootie.
2:25 – Passed the last of the Mohicans.
2:50 – turn onto 55 S.
2:59 – SE half of Missouri has very unstable air; expecting supercell in the next few hours.
3:20 – Police arrive, and we slow in response, therefore losing car-line cohesiveness.
3:57 – taking 255/270 S.
4:46 – turn west on Route W.
4:55 – turn N on 109.
5:00 – turn W to follow 44.
5:08 – contemplate going to Cuba.
5:22 – Watch box vanished; better chance on Sun/Mon. Some storms in S Kansas heading towards our hotel, and we will chase if something shows up.
5:26 – Hot and Cold water towers sighted.
5:34 – Gibbs Manor and virga sighting.
5:38 – Isolated action in Colorado, possible action in Kansas, we will evaluate the situation in the morning and decide on destination.
5:35 – Cap breakage in NW Missouri. It’s forming too slowly to see something before dark, so continuing to hotel.
6:15 – arrive at hotel, look at maps, and start preliminary suggestions for next day’s course. Likely tomorrow will be a driving day.
Day 2
7:15 – heading for Kansas; hotel is reserved in Colby.
7:26 – departure, taking 63 N, turned left onto 63N from 44E
7:36 – pass 38th parallel
7:45 – Mark ventures into the back of the pilot after the extra laptop, Mark survives.
7:55 – Question: miles to Limon Colorado? Car 2: 700 Car 3: 616 Car 4: 626 Car 5: 725 Answer: 640
8:23 – Passing through Jefferson City, still on 63N.
8:43 – Passed “Testicle Festival” sign on left side of road. Much speculation ensues.
8:45 – Passed same sign again, this time on the right side of the road.
9:02 – turn onto 70W.
9:08 – “Jeff Gordon Moves” proposed and acted out in order to catch up to Pilot after separation of caravan at stoplight.
9:12 – Bart voices regrets about not passing through Tightwad, Missouri.
9:15 – Escape traffic and continue efforts to reform caravan.
9:23 – finally reunited.
9:29 – Forecast indicates we will get a supercell with picturesque structure, but it’s unlikely to have a tornado
10:00 – Stop for gas.
10:15 – Resume travel on 70W.
11:15 – Run into traffic, caravan broken.
11:42 – Escape traffic.
11:53 – Reform caravan. Bart reports convection in the high plains.
12:21 – Reports of lightning in Colorado.
12:30 – Lunch.
12:52 – Depart back on 70W.
1:05 – Pass Burnett’s Mound. Day 2 update with slight risk in S Missouri and Kansas extending up through W Kansas and N-central Colorado. Steep lapse rates indicate a lesser chance of supercells, but greater chance of bow echoes and/or large hail. Supercell index: 30 and up is good, 50 and up is wonderful. This index indicates likelihood of severity if and only if a supercell forms.
1:10 – Reach Junction City, reminiscing commences in regard to the last trip’s lightning storm in this town.
1:25 – Observe increasing temperature; theorize it is due to an increase in elevation.
1:29 – Remark on Codell: hit 3 years in a row on May 20th by tornadoes, possible omen?
1:31 – Sox/Cubs update: 5-0, Sox favor.
1:35 – Lack of trees explained due to Johnny Appleseed’s seeds being blown to Canada by the southerly flow after he was hit by a tornado.
1:36 – Cross “Deep Creek” and remark on its deepness (or lack thereof).
1:42 – Figure how to charge car battery using the anemometer. Proposal made: get a board of wood and see if the blades will act as a saw.
1:48 – Question: What is current elevation? Car 2: 1270 Car 3: 1508 Car 4: 1475 Car 5: 1625 All incorrect, re-bid. Car 2: 1000 Car 3: 1170 Car 4: 1110 Car 5: 1171 Answer: 1193
1:49 – Distance report: 303 miles to Colorado, 250 mi to hotel.
1:52 – Clarify location details of the Manhattan Project. Convection occurrences reported in central-south South Dakota.
1:59 – Play game of naming song titles with form of precipitation mentioned in the title. Later change to songs with a color in the title.
2:55 – Random fact: Kansas freeland.com – people move from expensive homes to land Kansas gives them for free and end up with enough money to live comfortably.
3:00 – halfway across Kansas. Currently we are due S of the center of the contiguous USA.
3:20 – noted that next day looks good in Nebraska.
3:24 – Game update: 7-0 in Sox’s favor; Random aside: SD is the center of N American continent.
3:28 – Near-death of anemometer by bird. Or perhaps it should be the other way around…
3:49 – Gas stop.
4:05 – Back on 70W.
4:10 – Regain proper formation after difficulties returning to highway.
4:30 – Update: looks like cells are forming N and S of Sterling Colorado; heading for northern storm;
storms heading SE toward hotel area.
4:38 – elevation 2465 ft: will continue escalation another 1000ft in next 100 miles.
4:48 – elevation 2600ft.
5:02 – Pass Kansas National forest, and learn the Nebraska National forest is the largest hand planted national forest in the US.
5:09 – elevation 2943ft.
5:15 – elevation 3000ft.
5:36 – stop at hotel for keys.
5:40 – on 70W heading for Burlington Colorado.
6:20 – leaning towards going after S storm, both are dynamically the same but S storm more impressive.
6:29 – Spot sign: “Happiness is a crock of beans” although later you may not be so happy…
6:35 – Death of snake by Car 1.
6:37 – Going in!!! Storm is near-stationary and is 44 miles away; we are taking road G.
6:43 – Change in decision: we’ll take a road farther than G.
6:49 – decide to take road west and find another road back to 385. Storm is de-intensifying. We discover 385 turns W, and will continue on 385 until we reach road Z (still core punching).
7:00 – decide to get gas before we continue chasing, making the woman in the small gas station extremely happy (once gas station was found).
7:22 – Heading W back into storm “to get rolled.”
7:30 – see rain foot to the left (S), turn S on road that will eventually return to 385.
7:35 – daytime heating went away, so the upslope component is dying off, causing the storm to die from lack of support.
7:39 – evidence of storm in W Kit Carson county, so possible to catch it in Burlington if we so choose.
7:45 – 4390ft elevation; all storms today have been pulse storm: no rotation. Turn onto 385 N
7:55 – realize a “ball of death” is heading for Burlington (62dbz); good for chasing. We are hoping it won’t die before we get there.
8:03 – follow 385 left (W) and reorient so we can continue N.
8:04 – Dip in Cheyenne Wells: Pilot spark-age! Bart: “Careful!!! Careful!!! We just bottomed out!”
8:08 – Car 1 now designated Car “Soggy Bottoms” J
8:11 – Storm near Burlington still intensifying; we are 50 miles away. Note potential hail shaft
8:15 – Mammatus sighting.
8:16 – 385 veers E. Huge intense core is moving due E at less than 50 knots, but it does have a shear marker and is in an area where supercells are likely to form.
8:19 – turning back to the N; 46 miles from core
8:20 – sight potential hail shaft which seems to be falling straight down. It looks like just N of Burlington there is a 50dbz core 26 miles from our position that could be the potential hail shaft, and the main core from earlier is 43 miles away.
8:24 – 40 miles from main storm core
8:27 – 20 miles to hail core, 38 miles to main core
8:32 – 14 to hail, 28 to core
8:35 – 9.5 to hail, 30 to main core: may catch back end of main core
8:37 – 60dbz storm: radar update drops this to 30dbz in main core which is consistent with the lack of shear but not sensible.
8:38 – contemplate taking 24 to Kansas City, promptly vetoed. We are heading on 385 E until it turns N
8:41 – Radar verified: storm that dropped to 30dbz is now dead. We are heading back to hotel; looking for alternate route (shorter).
8:44 – Get back on 70E: may core punch on way to hotel
8:59 – Note: big raindrops related to updraft intensity (directly proportional). These storms will turn into a giant rain storm over 5 counties that will moisten boundary layer for tomorrow.
9:06 – Watching for funnel to N (sarcasm abounds).
9:09 – Cold air funnel forms due to strong lapse rates with cold air aloft and strong shear: they are not dangerous and never touch down.
9:15 – Discharges of lightning due to dryness of air. Morning plans: discussion by one of ladies’ rooms. Learned the storm which dropped from 60dbz to 30dbz to ‘dead’ didn’t really die, but we won’t resume chasing (too late).
9:20 – To determine which girls’ room will do discussion: Why do irrigation systems have flashing lights? Answer: to see which parts are working and navigate flow. Katri’s room doing discussion at
8, tentative departure set for 9am.
9:42 – Gas before heading to dinner and hotel.
Day 3
8:00 – Discussion: Computer difficulties with internet access. Discussion postponed until we gain internet access. We run to Wal-Mart in search of a cable for Janet GPS while waiting.
8:55 – Discussion held. Feel that things look good in Nebraska panhandle, W Kansas, and NE Colorado. Models do not agree with this, but all potential interesting stuff is equidistant from any other hotels we could choose and our current hotel. Decide to stay in current hotel tonight.
10:35 – decide to get lunch and see day 2 update before leaving.
11:30 – Brief discussion: heading towards mountains to observe what we can. We will decide further destination upon arrival. Update had 2% tornado.
11:45 – depart on 70W.
11:51 – 244 miles from mountains where convection is occurring: 30dbz. Approximately 9 hours and 45 minutes of daylight left.
11:54 – Tuba is thoroughly enjoying his Taco Johns. Condolences are extended to the other occupants of Car 1.
11:55 – dewpoints of 34 in Cheyenne and 48 where we are currently located\
11:58 – Observe Biker caravan, possibly a charity ride? Paul IDs ‘hard core’ riders, counting 5
12:10 – Tuba is fully fueled for the day. Other Car 1 occupants are still wary, and note that if we need a trigger, we’ve got one.
12:15 – dewpoints still pretty low; better one observed further W near Burlington/Akron.
12:21 – hard core biker spotted to help illustrate Paul’s definition.
12:34 – Pass “happiness is a crock of beans sign” once again.
12:50 – W Kansas, Texas panhandle, all near large scale ascent. Storms possibly add to shear, so we are in perfect position for tomorrow by staying at the same hotel. Decide to sit in Seiburt Colorado for awhile and not commit to a direction, we’ll wait and see. Sunscreen reminder.
1:01 – Turkey CU tower sighted: “gobble gobble” J
1:05 – in Seiburt for gas stop. Dewpoint drops 15 degrees from Burlington to Limon. We are pausing here to watch CU form.
1:45 – still stopped. Elevation is 4714 ft. SE or E 5kn wind; see virga
1:53 Tornado warning! We are heading to Cope and then Akron.
1:55 – heading N on 59. Cell with good structure erupted behind us, but we feel it won’t last long, so continuing with present course. At this time we officially drop off the end of the world.
2:02 – wavering on our choice of routes, vote on going N or S. N wins, continuing route
2:05 – Conversation on the wonders of Slim Jims.
2:06 – spot overshooting top. Dewpoint has dropped by 15 degrees where we are. Currently 135 mi away from overshooting top.
2:11 – Enter Washington County.
2:17 – S storm did die, verifies our good judgment in our choice of destination.
2:18 – take 36 in Cope to head W to Akron.
2:23 – sighting of Batman cloud signal. Dun dun duuuunnnn…
2:26 – storm we’re following is moving E
2:30 – severe thunderstorm watch by 21Z. Shear is increasing, 1250 CAPE, isolated supercell likely, damaging wind and hail likely, and Casper storm seems to be taking supercell form. May get lucky!!!
2:39 – turn N onto 63. ~23 miles to Akron and we will go W from there.
2:43 – Dewpoint increase observed.
2:45 – 98 miles from storm.
2:50 – “I want YOU” cloud (Uncle Sam recruitment poster) spotted.
2:51 – sight multiple vortex dust devil. Storm has de-organized into an impressive blob. Decide to sit in Akron until given reason to do otherwise.
2:55 – Storm drops to 50dbz. Cheyenne storm at 45dbz.
3:02 – Bird casualty number 1 by Cars 2 and 3.
3:04 – in Akron, stopping for the moment until we decide on a destination.
3:13 – Heading N on 63 to Atwood. We expect supercell development on the plains. 2% tornado risk ends at hotel, and a slight risk goes from hotel to Casper and into Montana to NE corner of Colorado.
3:19 – on N side of Palmer ridge, losing elevation.
3:21 – possible inflow band sighted going into the storm NW of us.
3:25 – see another storm, staying on course and not chasing it since we would have to retrace our route and find W road.
3:26 – turn right onto road 55 (dirt road) and heading up to ridge for better viewing.
3:28 – Stop on hill for viewing storm; facing W.
3:56 – Setting off again, heading N on 63
3:59 – Guessing that something good will happen ~6:30-7:00pm since CU to E appear to be drawing from some moisture that could do something of the supercell variety.
4:02 – Temp/Dpt 89/40
4:03 – Storm ~37 miles away. CU to E is exploding upward. We intend to go NE on interstate to see if we can get a better viewing position on CU field as well as storm.
4:07 – turn onto 76E, want to stay E of line.
4:10 – Suggestion to top off gas before we re-evaluate situation.
4:12 – Akron dewpoint at 32
4:15 – gas stop.
4:19 – Discover flat on Pilot.
4:20 – Car 5 goes into town (Sterling) to see if there is a tire place open. Others remain at the gas station watching storm towers still developing to E.
4:28 – Blame lack of luck on lack of church service since it’s Sunday.
4:35 – Found spare tire to act as temporary replacement.
4:38 – Rain free base breaking up on storm (which is heading for us).
4:40 – Departing for store to properly replace tire.
4:45 – Storms moving at 20kn, picked up speed
4:46 – Zack earns passing grade for trip by observing directions to Main street on a McDonalds sign.
4:52 – Wind is strengthening: wind reading of 13kn.
4:58 – “Thank heavens we’ve found the part for Janet. She was getting constipated.” J See lots of lightning; 20kn max wind.
5:15 – Storm base is moving overhead, easily seen base, amazing lightning. Downbursts!
5:36 – Back on road 6E. We will take 61S, go through Yuma, and pick up 34 to get around storms.
5:49 – 31 miles away from storm.
5:51 – clouds at 1 and 1:30 are developing fast; storm still has high bases – hoping to get under it.
5:55 – “We have a full tank of gas, half a bottle of pop, storms developing, 4 hours of daylight, and Tuba lost his glasses, let’s go for it!”
5:57 – think on making it to the front of storm, if we get around this flanking line it could be interesting in hour or two.
6:02 – cell blew up to hit Burlington, can see it ahead
6:03 – Polaris cap: cloud wisp at top of tower.
6:06 – Mammatus sighted at 7 o’clock. Storm has 40dbz and is blobbing a bit.
6:07 – knuckling: sign of divergence at the edge
6:12 – Storm exploding in front of us, has good up draft
6:26 – storm has hail potential. We see outflow.
6:28 – raining. We are watching for sloping. Rain is blowing at us from storm.
6:32 – Sky definitely striking. Storm has 60dbz.
6:35 – outflow ahead of us. NW and NE storms may have moisture competition between them. Outflow is ~60mph.
6:38 – Very dramatic appearance ahead. 15 miles until around edge, can see vertical edge.
6:46 – trip turning into “Stump the Albers Show”. Where hasn’t he been?
6:48 – structure of the storm we’re under is not as good as others in Nebraska and Kansas, but still intense.
6:53 – storm is drying out due to the ones in front of it. 35 and 41 miles away to said storms; not surprised if storm behind us is gusting out.
6:58 – 2 storms about an hour away, we can catch them. Sirens going!
7:00 – note gates on roads for barricading town when snow arrives.
7:04 – Temp/Dpt 76/42
7:05 – 66dbz storm ~30 miles ahead. Storm to N has 70kn shear marker heading for McCook, Nebraska. It is 60dbz, go after it since we would be in perfect position.
7:08 – southerly component to wind. Sunset is at 9, and it will turn dark 20-30 minutes after. Temp/Dpt 82/45
7:10 – storm movement E and/or SE ~10-20kn, will move faster tomorrow due to influence of the jet
7:12 – storm with 70dbz to S. Storm is developing between the 2 storms, must go through it to get into position for either of the other storms.
7:14 – Storm is 55dbz and intensifying, we’re going through it.
7:15 – would pass truck but going too fast. Truck also has testicles hanging off the back. Many comments about the trucker having balls, and we hypothesize that he may be heading for the testicle festival.
7:18 – Storm ahead rapidly intensifying: has 59dbz and possible hail. We’re going through it: definite hail. Truck is gone! More ‘ballsy’ comments are made.
7:23 – 71dbz at distance of 15-17 miles ahead, we will pass ahead of it. It has a shear marker of 40, but rotation is gone.
7:26 – still intermittent hailing
7:29 – boxed in by storms. We detect rotation 16 miles ahead in 69dbz storm. Road will eventually turn E.
7:30 – computer reports “twisting storm” ahead and to exercise caution. We’re in hail again; turning N.
7: 37 – getting around to N to avoid intense hail.
7:41 – going to attempt to go between storms ahead and behind us. Storm ahead of us sped up so we’re not going to catch it. Hail is behind us, so escape route is to the N.
7:44 – golf ball sized hail reported 15 min ago 12 miles away. “This is a beast!” Car 5 comments that this means we’re not yet to the “We are going to die” stage. J
7:45 – another storm to the NE. We are coming in S to its rain free base. Hail shafts are moving quickly. Warning: we will get pinned in if we don’t move fast.
7:48 – we are inside a horseshoe formation; we will find a way out to the N.
7:49 – storm back in Colorado re-intensified and is bowing out.
7:52 – storm to NE just merged into giant hail ball of death.
7:54 – get S ~10 miles then home free. Storm behind us is a definite monster.
7:56 – Warning just out for big hail in the county we were just in. We are going through 62dbz storm. We must get S or will be in hail all night. We are currently attempting to time our travel to get between storms. The structure is gone, now a hail storm.
8:00 – max wind of 118 when going 50-55 mph. We’re heading for hotel.
8:06 – “If I’m going to pop, I’ve got to stop.” Zach needs to stop soon. We are aiming to make it back to the hotel and out of the weather.
8:08 – storytime with Bart: describes water out at sea to bother Zach, fight possible fight later as permitted by AA “I’m going to kick your ass” cards.
8:13 – plans to stop to take care of bladders and take pictures of storms.
8:14 – request by Zach to cease water talk.
8:15 – 2 games proposed and vetoed: Name titles of songs with “water” in them, and the “I will kill you” game.
8:20 – note that what we saw was an illusion. There was no watch box, so no severe weather occurred.
8:22 – confirmation that we took correct course of action: this is THE storm in all potential areas we could have been.
8:25 – stop for radar viewing and bathroom break, back on road in 1 minute.
8:28 – Outflow! Storm heading straight at us. Max of 37mph wind recorded.
8:36 – 1 mile east of Bird City, and record gust of 46mph.
8:38 – dustnado on edge of outflow. We will try to get ahead and stop again to be hit by flow.
8:45 – stopping to try and recreate “outflow-age.”
8:50 – stop about half mile from McDonald Kansas. Taking pictures; storm is coming for us, so we depart at 8:58. We suspect rotation is present. We get hit by outflow again.
9:00 – Storm of 66dbz with one inch hail is coming straight for our prior position.
9:02 – biggest storm is behind us to the NW heading for Colby. Sunset is turning the clouds red.
9:05 – hypothesis that trucks passing on other side of road could be causing spikes in wind readings. We may stop to get lightning footage. New SPC outlook implies these storms will sustain themselves due to the low level jet.
9:07 – Please recall, no watches issued; this is all an illusion. J
9:08 – warning is issued. 20-25 miles to Colby once we turn S on 25. Storm of 66dbz is coming SE, straight at us.
9:21 – Stop for pictures of lightning. Gust is coming for us.
9:29 – going to wait and get hit by gust front before immediate departure.
9:32 – striations pass overhead. Gust is at 29, 22, 27, 31, 32, 34. Bart: “You are in the bear’s cage…” (cue ominous music). Gust is at 26, 29, 52, 56, 60: severe!!!
9:37 – Rotation 10 miles N, 5 miles S of Atwood.
9:43 – rotation: see scud going up into it.
9:45 – 92mph gate-to-gate shear: can you say LL-cool-jay?
9:47 – Wall cloud sighted.
9:50 – 68dbz and no watch/warning so technically safe.
9:54 – spot potential tornado, looking for road.
9:55 – stop to try and view tornado.
9:58 – running to avoid gust front, hotel is going to be slammed.
10:02 – new cell to WNW. Comment regarding chasing: “It’s like crack, I’m addicted. Where’s my heroine!?”
10:10 – getting gas to avoid rushing in the morning. Irony: we avoided hail only to possibly get hit in the parking lot. 39mph max wind on anemometer while in gas station.
10:15 – at hotel, bedtime!
Day 4
8:00 – Pre-discussion: merits of orange juice with pulp versus without, and wondering exactly where Kevin’s hands have been…
8:04 – Possible tornado setup today, shortwave presence very good. Shortwave is setting up a good temperature gradient in 700mb level (CAA). Bart suspects NE Colorado will have supercells. Anytime you can see stratus you know you have moisture. Checking upper levels for winds: 500mb speed increased from yesterday by 5-10, and 300mb also increased, so more shear present. Shortwave is already causing cloud formation this early. Good dewpoints seen in Limon and Burlington, note evidence of possible dryline. Is supercell possibly fostering shear? Comment that it looks good for an outbreak over Colorado. Day 2 looks to have stuff farther east of where we are. We will re-convene at 9:30 for further decisions.
9:30 – discuss destination and where we’re staying tonight; Car 5 in shop for brake repairs. It is a wreck waiting to happen if we don’t get it fixed.
9:47 – check with hotel if we can reserve the rooms for tonight if we must return here to get Steve and his car.
9:53 – rooms on hold until we decide where we’re going. View COD’s position and laugh at their complaints brought on by lack of knowledge and inexperience. Remark on avoiding discussing location via CB to prevent tails and “wack-jobs.”
10:05 – Learn that the repair place doesn’t have the parts, so they’re going to go and get them from another place nearby. If the parts work, it will be only an hour to fix the car. Otherwise it will take until tomorrow. Waiting to see what happens and decide in an hour what hotel reservations to make.
11:00 – Meeting to decide what we’re doing. Talk of Brisket the Cow possibly being French (‘le Meaux’). Lunchtime: we will leave by or at 12.
11:30 – Day 1 update: 5% tornadoes and 15% hatched hail. We will stay in Colby again; Car 5 has a temporary fix that should last for the rest of the trip.
12:10 – ready to depart; learn that Car 5 will be left behind to be safe given road conditions likely to be used. Car 5 occupants split up between cars.
12:20 – departure.
12:24 – Steve thanks everyone for splitting up his car. Steve is teased about technically not being a driver for a day.
12:28 – Suggestion to go to Holcomb, Kansas tomorrow.
12:29 – suggestion to develop code name for chase teams we may run into so they can’t listen in on our CB conversations.
12:40 – Radar showing a few storms around Denver, but nothing significant.
12:41 – Dewpoint 63 in Salina and E component to wind.
12:42 – Temp/Dpt 79/59 where we are.
12:50 – Spot Doppler to right. Comment on storm capable of producing F9s.
12:57 – outlook update: Goodland Kansas expects storm outbreak: hail, tornados, wind. NE counties of Washington and Yuma also expect storms. More clearing means better chances to get something. Expect development over the Rockies around 1, and weather watch anticipated around 3. Based on all evidence, we will head to Burlington and then N to Yuma, maybe Akron.
1:00 – hoping for tornado cyclogenesis today.
1:03 – starting to get development in mountains. Observe southerly component to wind.
1:07 – Day 2 update to 30% hatched, predicting large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. There is a slight risk increase running from N central Kansas through Nebraska into South Dakota. We won’t go too far N; stay S and play for isolated supercells instead of storms that are likely to become lines.
1:11 – “Happiness is a crock of beans” sign passed yet again. This road is getting quite familiar by now…
1:13 – temperature jumped to 88. Thought heating would be difficult, but it may not be a problem any more.
1:15 – Temp/Dpt 87.5/54.7 and 107mph wind on anemometer. Gusting reported in Burlington of 35kn. Going N on 385.
1:19 – See other chasers and a Cobra helicopter. We wonder what it would take to blow up a tornado
1:21 – Cloudiness ahead of us. We do not like this.
1:33 – Very little clearing trend
1:48 – 79mph recorded while Car 2 is going 59mph, so S wind component, may be slightly SE.
1:54 – Suspicion of trackers: saw people in last town who are now following us that appear to be chasers.
2:00 – following cars: one has red and blue lights, others have yellow lights, and one is a hummer.
2:05 – hypothesize that tornado fighters could get a hummer to carry missiles to blow up tornado.
2:06 – CU-age at 1-1:30.
2:08 – followers were storm spotters from Texas (TX plates). Turn left onto 34.
2:11 – the book Big Weather IDs our followers as Phil Henry’s group: he’s a guy who wishes to drive a padded car into a tornado.
2:14 – Radar shows nothing E of mountains. Some convection is occurring in S Colorado.
2:18 – remark on lack of chasers seen this trip; less people are chasing due to gas prices.
2:19 – Seem to have 10mph wind, Bart guessing wind gusts of 30mph are possible. Temp/Dpt 80/49, 86.7/45
2:30 – Going to sit for a bit; go W to Akron where we’ll wait for further developments. We will stop to decide destination.
2:42 – going W to Akron. We will get gas up there. Some convective development is occurring in NE Colorado.
2:47 – see small CU in the distance.
2:53 – Iridescence seen at 11 o’clock.
3:01 – Comment that the 1st thing learned in radar is that it is always wrong.
3:03 – “Missile silo” spotted (airplane navigation site).
3:04 – prison sighting
3:14 – Gas and lunch.
3:45 – Death of Brisket eaten by Joe.
4:00 – Finish lunch break at KTs Subs and look for parking lot to sit in.
4:06 – tornado chasers went by about 10-20 minutes ago. We think temperature/humidity gradient is too large for a tornado. MD is out for our area.
4:08 – going to find other place to stop at, our followers took our spot and we’re avoiding them…or maybe not. People went over to talk to them.
4:10 – same outlook for day 1, but shifted S
4:12 – Meet our ‘followers’, Severe WX Chase Team, same as in the book Big Weather Michael is currently reading (Phil Henry). A writer is with them to write a book, and he takes our picture.
4:30 – heading to another place to stop with a clear view.
4:34 – Thunderstorm warning for 2 counties to the S of us.
4:36 – back on the road from yesterday where we saw Brisket. Reminder that Joe ate her at lunch J
4:40 – Stopping, Bart has an idea
4:41 – Temp/Dpt 89/49. 30mph wind gusts where we are located (1-2 miles S of Akron Colorado on Bob’s road).
4:43 – 32mph gusts and holding at 27mph
4:47 – Stationary front and dryline crossing
4:50 – Tornado warnings issued
4:57 – Bart wants to take a nap
5:00 – Severe thunderstorm watch. The shear profile has increased, but we’re not chasing it since it’s blobbish. No mention of tornadoes, but 2-3 in. hail is possible. Severe watch until midnight
5:45 – heading out after storm. Boundary collision is nearby; we are taking a chance to go after a cell and maybe get rolled by something (squall line).
5:47 – all other storm in mush form (highly technical term). We are going after the only cell in the area.
5:51 – Temp/Dpt 83/41
5:56 – SE Kansas and SW Missouri have a little bit of stuff going on, but where we are is the “only game in town”. We’re going to Otis and watching for further development.
6:00 – plan to set up S of Otis.
6:03 – stop on road to sit, go and look at radar.
6:06 – 31 mph gust
6:07 – 36 mph gust
6:10 – Trying to hit fencepost with rocks. Katri hits the top on the first try with softball pitch. Zach gets close a few times before hitting it with an overhand throw. Jen is getting closer with an overhand throw (doing well considering she’s never thrown before).
6:17 – max gust 36 from the S. Jen hits the post!
6:23 – heading out, going after E storm. It is dropping precipitation and has very solid flat base.
6:28 – storm is moving SE at 35kn, not easy to catch since it is 34 miles away.
6:30 – wider, more sustained base of storm has 60dbz and is intensifying rapidly
6:33 – planning to get behind the storm
6:34 – “Goodnight moon, goodnight mush,
Goodnight lady, who says hush.”
--presented by Bart
6:36 – doubt we can catch it, it’s going N FAST. We’re taking 54; we may get baseball size hail, but that’s OK. J
6:39 – see storm next to the one we’re currently chasing near the boundary which may make it do something. (It is behind the one we are currently chasing.)
6:41 – From a note Bart concludes: “Zach writes very well, and doesn’t like this class, and wouldn’t let people watch without paying us.” (note actually found on road)
6:43 – Current storm does not warrant a “Dih dih dih dih dih”
6:44 – Pass school copying Texas names. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but still…
6:46 – storm not really much more than a blob structure-wise. We are still 29 miles away from the core.
6:47 – Second bird casualty to cars 2&3.
6:52 – take 59 to Paxton and 6 E to 85 to go parallel to the storm which has 60dbz.
6:54 – Temp/Dpt 87/56 in Yuma; so high a difference we won’t get a tornado.
7:02 – 20 miles to core of cell (elongated cell).
7:05 – Storm has hit the boundary; core is on boundary intersection.
7:07 – Seems to be intensifying, but radar says de-intensifying.
7:08 – huge blob of rain, if we follow this we’ll run into an MCS on our way to the hotel tonight
7:09 – coming to highway 22, will look at taking that to cut off storm. 22 is a dirt road, taking alternate route.
7:13 – turn onto route 6.
7:16 – once we get to Holyoke we will stop and look at radar and decide whether to continue or to stay put and get rolled by the MCS.
7:19 – Aside: landspouts are formed near intersecting boundaries and with a lot of CAPE to cause a strong updraft (these are the usual conditions, they aren’t always there)
7:22 – 56dbz coming up according to radar
7:27 – Paul declares the storm is self-aware and will drop a tornado near Ogallala out of spite since we ceased to chase it.
7:30 – Ball of death from the SW; if we get to Wray we can stay ahead of it
7:31 – Spot chasers heading N (opposite us)
7:37 – winds aloft are SW or S
7:38 – spot ASOS site
7:45 – have MCS intensifying; may have giant “run for your life” storm
7:48 – Bart says if we see a tornado, we may cease to keep logs (except the trip logger), and Car 2 wonders if hitting a pheasant with the anemometer would be worth extra credit.
7:50 – max of 116mph while going 60mph from anemometer
7:53 – “man collecting change up ahead” is actually a man with ‘slow’ sign for construction. We see a hole being dug: “it’s where they put the dead bodies”
7:55 – after construction, have speed limit of 55 for 100 ft before dropping down to 40. The mysteries of NE Colorado…
7:57 – Truck entrances… but where are the truck exits?
7:59 – puns of the town named Wray: ‘of hope’ ‘of sunshine’ etc.
8:01 – nicknames (potential ones): Ray-lease, ray-on, ray-dars, ray-scars, ray-nex, ray-guns, etc
8:06 – stop for bathroom break
8:12 – back on the road
8:14 – little fire hydrants for little towns…
8:17 – Bust day? Pretty much, yes. Moisture is cut off to the storm.
8:23 – “Nebraska, the good life. Home of Arbor Day” - sign for border of Nebraska
8:30 – take 27 S.
8:32 – Pilot annihilates its 1st bird, 3rd of trip.
8:35 – monster stuff occurring W of Colorado Springs
8:39 – 68dbz on storm.
8:52 – stop for radar viewing. Katri and Amanda switch places. Katri demonstrates how graceful she isn’t by flipping over the back seat.
8:55 – resume trip; heading out to see lightning
8:56 – decide second ladies room has discussion in the morning
8:57 – 66dbz on storm
9:00 – we will run into rain on the way to 385, but will pass it by when in position to see lightning
9:04 – 62dbz, encountering rain
9:09 – 61dbz (aka: 71-10, 51+10 for the half-full optimistic people, 122/2) cell heading for us. We will be careful.
9:11 – Car 2 opens bag of man-chips (Doritos) which have been smashed pressurized. J
9:12 – Anemometer did a 360; radar update has storm at 65dbz
9:14 – learn pilot has killed 3 birds total, not 1
9:17 – committed to idea of seeing lightning, so doing it
9:21 – Conversation in Pilot on Beef Jerky causes miss of turn; Car 3 now in lead to Burlington
9:24 – Rhyme about Mark on Radar created and sing-songed, will be available on cassette and tape… ???; Puzzlement over why such a distinction had to be made…
9:25 – Burlington and Cheyenne Wells under Severe Thunderstorm warnings
9:26 – “Magical box, you speak to me
Relaying messages through the CB”
-Car 2
9:27 – “We are gonna get whupped” “You are approaching a twisting storm.” Tip of bow echo is 65 miles away; leading edge has shear markers.
9:29 – remark that it would be nice to have the computer give the warning: “You are entering the bear’s cage.”
9:31 – mile marker 391-408 under the gun. Extremely dangerous Thunderstorms are moving NNE at 60mph. Storm has 4 shear markers.
9:32 – Re-evaluate decision: there is no tornado risk, we will get to Burlington before the storm does, and we have an escape to the E; we can get pictures in Burlington and then return to hotel before the bow arrives.
9:34 – Only change is that we would have a gust front. Group still has qualms. The radar says Burlington is safe, so we will stop in Burlington to see the radar and decide what to do.
10:09 – Severe watch for Cheyenne and Kit Carson; storm is continuing toward Colby. We are heading back to hotel.
10:25 – Suggesting we go more S tomorrow to see supercells instead of balls of death, maybe Topeka, Kansas. We will depart at 9 tomorrow.
10:34 – wind 91mph with max 98mph while Car 2 is going 75mph. Storms are heading toward Goodland, not too severe, in mush state.
10:37 – killed large bug in Pilot
10:41 – nothing happening in US but what we have
10:44 – express desire for a Jason Baldwin story, but only Jason can really deliver one properly. Highest wind 118mph from Car 2
10:54 – Nearly kill road-kill
11:09 – Sight Colby
11:12 – “We go to bed
to rest our head
to get up in the morning
to find a storm warning”
-Car 2
Arrived at hotel
Day 5
Sometime prior to 7:30 – notes given to all rooms by 226
To 224 (other girls’ room):
No doubt about it, you guys are:
a) the cream of the crop
b) the antenna to our CB
c) the pen to our paper
d) the beans to our crock pot of happiness! (see log for reference)
Decorated with smiley faces, CB, crock of beans, stars
To 225 (Joe, Steve, Zack, Michael):
You drive us east, you drive us west,
You even videotape the best
There to the North and to the South
Make sure to keep Brisket out of your mouth!
Picture of cow included
Unfortunately, the other poems were not given to the logger and thus are not recorded here.
8:00 – Discussion: Moist in E Kansas, but dries out after the boundary goes through. The only good sounding is in Topeka Kansas, Nebraska is too dry. 10% tornado is in the Dakotas; hatching is farther S. Day 2 outlook looks to be farther E in NE Oklahoma, Missouri, and Iowa. There are good dewpoints in South Dakota, so we don’t want to go to Missouri tomorrow. Supercell index in NE Kansas border is good. Possibly stay in Grand Island?
Destination: worry if South Dakota is actually good or not according to SPC. We think central Nebraska may be good. Shortwave coming through is going to hump the hodograph. We have less of a Temp/Dpt spread. LCLs are closer to the ground farther N; more likely to get vertical motion and a tornado on ground
Cells likely to form for about hour and then go linear due to the dryline passing to trigger them
Probably in S LCL will be rising and cells will gust out soon (get wind dominant)
Temp dewpoint spreads: wider means less likely to get tornado
Suspect forward propagating MCS with large hail
Pattern in Dakotas is familiar; weekend looks better for Dakotas to have picturesque LP storms
Topeka, Kansas looks interesting; nothing out there at the moment cloud-wise. CAPE is high but no CIN (oddness)
Suggest Imperial and Junction City for hotel choices – decide on Junction City. Leaving at 9:30 at the latest.
9:40 – departure from hotel, getting gas.
9:55 – on our way, heading for Norton to see how things go.
10:03 – Comment about having to stop at 0Z to catch the American Idol finale…not.
10:04 – Junkyard on left yields storytime with Bart. 2 years ago one of the cars was avoiding a truck and thus wiped out a family of ducks and the second car had its front end demolished by a board on the road. The part to fix it came from this junkyard and the entire cost of the part and repair was only $20.
10:06 – Official announcement: Team Awesome is back in business.
10:07 – near bird hit in Car 4.
10:10 – Going to Norton and watching dryline (drifting E with it). Waiting for cap to break.
10:15 – Learn Bart’s first word was thunderstorm.
10:16 – No cold front now, believe it will form later.
10:25 – Discussion regarding how to get onto the show “The Price is Right”
10:26 – Spot advertising market for Zach to sell his cow. There is also a cattle magazine (very disturbing).
10:36 – currently S of Norton, facing E. Nothing happening right now, but maybe later…?
10:56 – Storm on North Dakota/Canada border has 62dbz. See CU at 1 o’clock. Temp/Dpt 75/53, second reading 80/53.5. Believe boundary is up ahead. Heading more E to get to boundary by noon; think it may be a second dryline trying to establish itself, but unsure about exactly what kind it is.
Note: things become noticeably greener as you go down in altitude.
11:08 – tree-sighting reminiscent of the Lion King elephant graveyard.
11:10 – suspect severe storms W of 281 after 2 pm.
11:12 – max anemometer reading of 117mph (while driving).
11:14 – random fact: lower turbidity air equals bluer sky, and white haze signifies more moisture.
11:15 – Car 2 measures dewpoint of 61, Car 4 has 80/57; dewpoint is going up as we move E. Possibility of Pizza Hut buffet in Phillipsburg.
11:20 – Pass yet another correctional facility…
11:21 – pass buffalo on right (cardboard cutout). Higher dewpoints over water, cornfields, etc. We will retake a measurement soon.
11:30 – 61 dewpoint in Car 2, 80/54.6 in Car 4. Enter the cow and calf capitol of Kansas
11:43 – Entering Pizza Hut watch as we enter town.
11:46 – Warning Issued for Pizza Hut, visual in 30 seconds.
11:47 – Lunch stop at the Pizza Hut buffet!
12:23 – On the road again… going E on 36 to Smith Center and assess situation from there. Day 2 outlook looks to be active. Side Notes: Pizza Hut warning did verify. Sighting of Friskey Brisket BBQ; Zach denies that it is his Brisket…
12:30 – Car 4 records 88/51, Car 2 records 92/61. New Day 2 is 30% from Central Illinois to SE Missouri, 15% in Kansas down to Tulsa. Expect the most activity in Missouri and Illinois will be severe mainly due to large hail and damaging winds
12:39 – MD is out for Nebraska extending from where we are to 2 counties W of the Iowa border. Expect rapid thunderstorm development with high bases limiting tornado formation. Recommend changing hotel to make it easier to chase Missouri tomorrow and take I-80 W.
12:51 – Rooms switched from Abilene to Beatrice; this brings us closer to the border so we have more range.
1:01 – Boundary is to the W of us. We will go north to the chapel at the center of the US, and then continue NE.
1:06 – Take road AA as a ‘shortcut’. 3 miles to center of the US.
1:10 – “We’re halfway there, Living on a prayer.” Sadly this was not sung.
1:12 – At the center of the US; stop for pictures
1:19 – Off again. Max wind reading 10mph, probable tree interference.
1:20 – noted that technically, this IS the middle of nowhere…
1:24 – Singing: “Amber waves of grain…” Or rather green…
1:31 – Enter Nebraska and wonder how people pay their taxes if their fields happen to span the border.
1:32 – Car 5 of the opinion that Kansas roads are a lot nicer.
1:39 – Gas stop.
1:52 – Back on the road. Heading north to find a road to sit on while waiting to see if anything new pops up.
1:57 – Convection occurring in N-central Nebraska, 59dbz storm moving north at 33mph.
2:00 – Stopped one mile N of Red Cloud Nebraska on no-name road.
2:20 – Tornado watch for central Nebraska/South Dakota border. We are staying put to see if cells develop south of that nearer our own position.
2:22 – game of ‘throw the foot ball around’; takes a while to realize this is not practical given wind.
3:03 – 10% tornado risk extending down to Nebraska/Kansas border.
3:12 – Weather watch in next hour or so. MD issued for Nebraska and Kansas.
3:30 – severe thunderstorm watch issued.
4:07 – Max wind gust of 36mph at beginning of stop; has not gotten that high since then.
4:10 – Heading west to get close to activity; going up N to 4 and then heading W.
4:14 – More cells developing in N Kansas.
4:22 – missed our turn, turning around (road curved the wrong way).
4:31 – mention of Hooker County; apparently there are 2 in existence: one in Oklahoma and the other in Nebraska. Remark that the high school in Oklahoma had the mascot of the Horny Toads, and their rival school had an even worse mascot that apparently cannot be said over the CB.
4:40 – Storm intensifying to the SW in Franklin County at Kansas/Nebraska line. We will stay here and watch it come by. Now we just have to figure out how to keep up with it…
4:41 – See storm heading S.
4:51 – Stop to watch cells forming W and N of where we were, currently 2 mi. W of Upland Nebraska.
5:00 – Max wind on anemometer of 38mph.
5:13 – Decide to go W and N to stay ahead of it, rain arriving at our position.
5:21 – 35mph anemometer reading. Omaha issued warning that tornadoes are most likely in NE corner of Nebraska, but storms are already going linear,
5:26 – Comment on needing more moisture.
5:30 – Heading north to interstate so we can maneuver. Storm to SE has 58dbz.
5:33 – train blocking traffic: “Car Awesome does not like trains.”
5:36 – manage to get around train. Storm has 61dbz, and we are currently losing the race…
5:38 – Possible hail shaft spotted to N of storm.
5:39 – Hail shaft just got huge. Storm is moving NNE at 41mph.
5:44 – currently halfway to interstate. We are heading towards 61dbz storm, but likely to only catch tail end of it since it will reach the interstate first.
5:47 – Storm to SE has 67dbz. Computer warning says that we are nearing a strong storm and to exercise caution. See inflow band to the left.
5:48 – taking I-80 E.
5:52 – storm with 61dbz SE of us by 13 miles.
5:55 – 64dbz for storm at 7 o’clock. We are looking at highway options for this storm (which has a lowering and the base is dropping). We have to be careful or the storm forming to the N will block our view.
6:02 – No warnings out for any of this.
6:08 – Not going to be able to go much further N, all outflow.
6:09 – have 24-26 mph winds.
6:14 – pulling ahead to see gust front.
6:16 – Wall cloud sighted
6:17 – currently W of Grand Island Nebraska
6:25 – decide to head S, but we think that we need to go E soon; storm is closing on us pretty fast
6:30 – activity is going linear and rapidly turning into an outflow dominant MCS. Cell to the S is becoming a gust front.
6:34 – Too linear, all high LCL with a monster shelf. Have the idea to go far E and see the shelf cloud formed by all of them
6:40 – Thunderstorm Warning issued. Spot lowering at 5 o’clock. Trees hampering visibility, but see possible wall cloud. Storms still becoming outflow dominant very quickly.
6:43 – Stopping to see storm and decide best course of action at exit 324, currently east of Red Cloud
6:46 – Max wind gust of 117mph (allow for car speed). Storm shear markers are gone.
6:52 – Stopped 6 miles into Hamilton County just off exit 324, SE of Grand Island
6:57 – max wind of 35 mph measured in inflow for gust front
7:00 – moving out, going S to get gas in town. If we don’t find a station we will go E until we do. The storm is becoming one big squall line.
7:04 – going east on 6th road which will run into 14
7:09 – Wind damage reported for where we were when we saw the wall cloud. Warning issued for Hamilton County until 8. Wind damage and quarter to golf ball sized hail is likely.
7:13 – Storm is changing direction, going to be absorbed quickly. We need to go N to stay clear. Raining! Released base support
7:15 – going to stay ahead of storm and take pictures of the shelf ; we will stay ahead all the way to the hotel
7:17 – stop for enough gas to get to where we want to be
7:21 – running to get ahead for video/pictures and to decide if we will get rolled or stay ahead of it until we reach the hotel
7:29 – pass Skywarn going the opposite direction
7:31 – pass Blown Away Tours and the National Geographic ‘tank’
7:38 – take 81 S to get to hotel faster, going to be close, but we’ll probably make it
7:40 – max wind of 99mph (car is moving)
7:41 – 70dbz storm to our right, has rain free base. Note that hotel is going to get slammed. No shear marker or warning as of yet, but looks as if it will be absorbed by the line also
7:45 – warning issued to abandon mobile homes and get to basements due to 80mph winds or more
7:47 – one cell left to the NE moving at 40mph, mainly a gust front with 105mph gusts. Possible the line is hanging S?
7:55 – Stopped to take pictures of shelf cloud. Computer warning: ‘you are nearing a twisting storm. Please exercise caution.’ We are stopped off of 6. Another warning for Hamilton County issued. Brian fixes GPS, storm is 16 miles away, heading straight for us
8:06 – Moving along road to find a better viewpoint, narrowly escape train blockage by 5-10 minutes
8:13 – looking for road heading south, possibly route 15?
8:19 – 40 miles from hotel (straight line), about an hour’s drive
8:25 – argument over the merits of various state universities as well as the associated cities. Baseball update: Cubs 4 Marlins 3
8:27 – Thunderstorm warning for Fillmore County. Extremely dangerous situation: find shelter in a basement due to possible 80mph winds or greater. See rain free base at 3 o’clock (just turned S)
8:34 – decide to stop, turn W to see under the clouds
8:36 – stopped W of 15. 34mph wind max. Storm is 33 miles W of us with 2 shear markers! Line swallows last single cell, now have a giant line
8:54 – back on the road
9:01 – turn onto 41 E
9:03 – Storm warnings for Fairmont
9:14 – Tornado watch expires. Only thunderstorm watches out until 2 am
9:17 – storm still linear and purple; Car 2 is ready to be hit by “purple people eater”
9:24 – Salina has severe storm warning. 60-80 mph winds
9:26 – 14 miles to the hotel
9:29 – Valparaiso is one of the anchor points of the line extending down to west of Omaha
9:34 – Thunderstorm warning for our county
9:39 – At hotel, cars will head out again for food
10:00 – food obtained. Car 2 was forced to walk through the drive-through since the anemometer wouldn’t fit. Return to hotel and watch the storm roll us.
Day 6
8:15 – Discussion: central Iowa looks good helicity-wise. SPC has a moderate risk in E Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. We fear storms will go all linear again. We are hoping moisture will make them more likely to go tornadic, but they will still go linear quickly regardless. Nothing is showing up for tomorrow, so it would be a travel day. We need to get E, so we're heading out!
8:37 – depart from hotel; going N to Lincoln and then going E
8:39 – Zach reminded to turn on lights; $5 owed to Kevin for yesterday’s reminder
8:50 – Waiting on choosing a hotel until we have a better idea for where we’ll end up. Tomorrow we’ll have a driving day to South Dakota; we won’t see Carhenge or Chimney Rock since they’re too far out of our way.
8:51 – Bart planning on a beard due to lack of razor.
8:53 – 70 dewpoints in S Iowa.
8:56 – note that is it dryer in W Iowa. Wish is made for 80 degree dewpoints.
8:57 – noted that yesterday needed more scud to have something happen.
Aside: Cubs lost 5-4 yesterday
8:58 – Temp/Dpt reading of 70/54.
9:00 – Recall soundings: Springfield had a loaded gun, and Davenport didn’t, although it was very moist.
9:04 – lots of moisture in Iowa. We think that there will be strong winds of 80mph or greater. We are going to Iowa, but wonder if dry air will be coming in; there is some over Nebraska at approximately 700mb and advecting towards Iowa.
9:09 – We don’t want to cross the river; we want to be west of Cedar Rapids. We will have to keep stops short. There wasn’t much capping over this area; convection temperature is 90 degrees, and the temperature is going to be in mid to upper 80’s, so upper level forcing will likely break the cap.
9:14 – Nebraska football fans are good fans; Zach shares stories of Lincoln. Bryan has aneurism over train yard. Dryline has passed through; there’s a drop of 10 degrees in the dewpoint.
9:17 – Temp/Dpt of 75/72 in Red Oak, Iowa. Comments made regarding the appearance of stadiums on game day.
9:23 – Plan to fill gas soon.
9:27 – Realize Chicago and Valparaiso are going to get killed by some stuff that’s come up from some of last night’s and today’s new action.
9:34 – Chicago has 39 degree dewpoint.
9:37 – Temp/Dpt of 77/72 in Red Oak, Iowa. Boundary is passing through Omaha. Temp/Dpt 73/59 in the Quad Cities (just east of the boundary). Combined facts of mid-80’s temperatures and lower dewpoints will cause lower bases today.
9:47 – Consider buying VUSIT corvettes. You can dodge hail, but there are only 2 passengers; may choose to invest in helicopter or hummer (solar-powered), or use wind-powered tanks, or a hovercraft, so we could go over water: it would be like a roller coaster in a storm. We wonder if there is a way to rig a train or a track. The answer is no.
10:01 – Comment on how Omaha has a 10 lane highway, but Chicago only has 4-6 lane highways. Only way to have no traffic on Chicago roads is if the Cubs won the World Series (or if the world ended).
10:04 – Pass Rosenblatt Stadium on the right
10:08 – Wind shift to westerly and dewpoint drop to 55 degrees; we’re just behind the boundary. There are several 70 degree dewpoints E of here (good sign). Current dewpoint of 72 degrees; we will go more E and get ahead of the boundary, which is moving approximately 30-35 knots.
10:10 – Storm that already has a red core sprung up E of Kansas City. Looking for Amoco station
10:16 – Amoco in 34 miles
10:27 – Wind advisory for W Iowa and E Nebraska for 50mph winds. If this keeps up then it’s possible to have 100mph winds in the forming storms, so either the low is deepening or the short wave is pushing forward. That’s currently the highest risk E of Des Moines.
10:28 – Car 2 is going approximately 70mph and measures wind-speed of 50mph. We haven’t left the front yet. When the winds pick up, we’ll be crossing the front.
10:30 – Nearing gas exit
10:42 – About an hour ago, the wind changed in Atlantic Nebraska. It’s going to change in Des Moines around noon.
10:45 – Northeast of Atlantic by approximately 10 miles, getting gas and food at Amoco McDonalds
11:05 – back on the road, heading E
11:40 – New convective outlook. We expect convection in Minnesota and spreading S. We think it could create bow echoes. There’s a MD out for E of I-35. There’s moisture ahead of the front and convection at 19Z is the earliest time tornadoes would be possible before the cells will turn into bow echoes with damaging winds. There should be widespread convection by 20-21Z. We need to get about 50 miles E to be in a good position. We have at least another hour of heading E before we make further decisions. We see CU at 3 o’clock building on the horizon. The tracks on the storm are E or NE.
11:46 – The line is moving at 30-32 mph. If something was going 114mph, then the inflow would be outflow.
11:56 – Car 2 is going 75mph and the anemometer reads 35mph: strong W winds
11:58 – Zach is again reminded about his lights. The dewpoint in Des Moines is at 63 degrees. Winds are still strong, and we have to get E of Des Moines to have a real chance at seeing stuff. Suggestion made that the rebate total be used to buy meals for just a couple of people. Winds have shifted and the air is drying out so we must get through Des Moines. Temp/Dpt 80/64
12:03 – Within an hour of where we should be in order to see. We could go S. Car 3 is of the opinion to bust E, and several people prefer to go E instead of S.
12:17 – Still no hotel decision. We’re waiting until we’re situated and have an idea of where we’ll be this evening.
12:20 – Lines are popping to the S and building a line to the N; this is opposite of what we saw this morning and is better for cell formation, although they’ll still form a line very quickly.
12:23 – We’re staying in the Quad Cities tonight (Davenport & Bettendorf Iowa, Moline & Rock Island Illinois), making a reservation.
12:30 – Day 2 outlook has only straight line winds in S Illinois and N Missouri. Day 3 outlook has good storm structures in the Dakotas, so tomorrow will be a travel day. W-central Illinois and N-central Missouri currently have a tornado watch. E Iowa has hail three inches in diameter and strong winds. We may go to Illinois and then come back NE.
12:45 – Temp/Dpt of 79/52. There was a 73 dewpoint an hour ago. There is a lot of CU going up ahead of us.
12:52 – It looks like convergence to the N is shifting E of the river at about 50kn. The wind is not as strong anymore. The wind-reading and car-speed are the same in Car 2.
1:02 – A deer crosses the highway; fortunately we don’t hit it.
1:07 – 70 degree dewpoint. The wind is shifting W/SW in Marshall Town. There are only blobs appearing on radar, but something is forming. We see some storms going up east of Quincy extending up to Milwaukee.
1:15 – Temp/Dpt 88/53. This seems a little low; we retry and get the same. Public advisory for severe weather issued. Car 2 takes dewpoint reading of 67 degrees.
1:17 – Storms are re-strengthening in Missouri. We are going to get gas at an Amoco station and then go to wait at a rest stop. We think we should have a new psychrometer for next year.
1:23 – Exiting from freeway to get gas and stretch
1:30 – Heading for rest stop on 80 E. We are approximately 13 minutes away.
1:36 – Cubs Game Update: Losing 6-3
1:40 – In the new portion of the MD: we are in the western section of the area described. Hail, damaging wind, tornadoes, and watches are likely later. Missouri storm has just blown up. There are a few scattered cells. Davenport has S wind.
1:46 – Anemometer records mid-low 70mph wind-speeds: W component is dying out.
1:47 – A rest stop is in one mile; it has wireless internet.
1:48 – We reach the stop and are staying until we decide what to do next.
2:10 – Leaving to go to the next rest stop 50 miles E, since the dry line is heading that way rather quickly.
2:16 – Pass an accident, traffic isn’t halted, but it is a little bit slower.
2:18 – There’s development S of the Iowa border in N Missouri that may cut off the moisture to anything that tries to form up here. Quad Cities have Temp/Dpt of 87/68.
2:19 – The SPC was right with their moderate, but we think it should be in Illinois.
2:29 – We spot CU tower at 12 o’clock.
2:38 – Severe thunderstorm watch up into Wisconsin, but the moisture is cut off. COD has pulled into the rest stop that we just left. We are going to Davenport, but may go S to Peoria. We will not change the hotel, since we will be able to come back up the interstate.
2:40 – Deep convection is triggering stuff to the S, so it is much more difficult to get development here. We are still evaluating as we go E. Current storms have lots of lightning, are small, and the closest is 85 miles S, traveling at approximately 30mph.
2:43 – No MDs for Iowa. They are all in Minnesota or S Missouri.
2:45 – Tornado watch issued by SPC. Iowa City is the farthest W anchor along Missouri border. There’s nothing in the Iowa storm NW of Peoria. Confluence S of Quincy up to Rockford is popping storms with massive convection to the SE.
2:50 – We pass the truck from Colorado.
2:52 – We will get through town and then evaluate our situation once we are on the other side.
2:55 – Taking the exit for 280 E.
2:57 – Tornado watch issued extending from Iowa City E into central Illinois and from Wisconsin down into Missouri. Bart does not see why they have a tornado watch in Iowa and thinks we should cut S on 39.
3:11 – Cells are moving NE through the watch box. A line of CU is forming from Wisconsin to Iowa City. The SPC is assuming it will pop. We have the choice of busting tail S or planting it and hoping for something to come W of us. The line looks like if it builds through Iowa, it will end up E of Iowa City. There is a reasonable chance to catch something to the S. The weather center says the winds shifted and 45% wind and hail extends from E Iowa up to Chicago and down to St. Louis. We are going to go on 39 and cut S to avoid getting hit.
3:13 – Cluster of cells is coming up from the SW. Storms are starting to get shear markers, and at some point we will be rolled.
3:17 – COD is going a bad way.
3:20 – One storm with 69dbz and several with 60dbz are moving E or NE. “And can we say Illinois Outbreak of 2006?”
3:29 – 7 warnings in Illinois and 2 in Missouri.
3:38 – 72dbz storm just north of Kankakee. We may want to head further E. We have at least four reports of baseball-sized hail from this storm. The highest moisture convergence is E of us and the line is obvious from satellite.
3:39 – No linear structure yet. Everything is blasting up in individual cells. Once we get E of 39, there will be no getting back. The total warnings are: 2 in Missouri and 10 in Illinois, no tornado warnings yet.
3:44 – We don’t know if we’ll be able to make it or not, because another cell has popped up.
3:48 – We have to go further E, we can’t make 39.
3:50 – Stopping for Steve. 1 minute 30 second stop.
3:51 – Back on the road again
3:53 – Thunderstorm warnings until 4.
3:56 – 11 warnings in Illinois and 3 in Missouri
3:59 – Kankakee proper is getting it; the storm has lost its rotation.
4:00 – Car 2 has a max wind reading of 86mph (while driving).
4:01 – Severe thunderstorm warnings in the county to the S of us for damaging winds. The storm is back-building straight ahead of us. We are not going to core punch, but 39 is cut off from us, and we also have construction.
4:05 – Warning issued for the county ahead of us. We think we’re going to have to bag this chase, because we’re fifteen minutes too late.
4:11 – Warning for Putnam County is cancelled.
4:14 – There is an accident on the other side of the road. We will not be returning this way.
4:18 – The warning count is 17 in Illinois, no tornado warnings. Bart feels there’s too much gust front interaction between storms to get a tornado. We spot a hail shaft at 2 o’clock.
4:20 – We are currently ahead of one of the cells and behind another.
4:21 – Warnings issued to 4 counties due to the storm ahead of us and to the E. We’re going nearly due E and are approximately 2 miles N of Olmitz Iowa.
4:25 – A warning for Pontiac Illinois. The storm has a history of widespread wind damage. Some storms are heading up to the NW.
4:31 – We could go N and try to see the structure, or we could go S and get rolled. It looks like this is becoming a derecho. We like the N option and are looking for a road. No tornadoes. It’s not a big MCS. Taking exit 97
4:35 – Heading N on this road and then taking 71 back W. Something may occur to the NW.
4:37 – Warning in central Indiana for the cluster we just begged off of. We think it will become a big blob and roll into Indiana.
4:41 – Storm has 52dbz and is developing to the NW. The far Chicago area and Indiana have been issued a thunderstorm warning.
4:42 – If the storm to the W does anything, we will be in a good position to see it.
4:45 – Most of the warnings to the S are expiring, so we made a good choice.
4:47 – See Mammatus above us.
4:48 – There is an E-W line S of 80, but other than that, there isn’t anything spectacular on radar.
4:50 – The peak number of warnings was 22 in Illinois.
4:52 – The S side of Joliet has golf ball-sized hail
4:54 – We will turn N on 23 from 71. Warning issued for Grundy County.
4:59 – We decide to sit at 34 to watch. The core is approximately 40 minutes from here, so we will sit and let the storm come to us.
5:03 – We don’t have a clear view due to too many trees.
5:05 – We are waiting for the radar to update to decide if we want to go N or S.
5:08 – We are sitting on a road off of 23, 4 miles south of Earlville Illinois. Joe has a flat tire. People will be redistributed while he goes to Ottawa to get it fixed.
5:16 – Tornado warning in SW Wisconsin. The inflow for our storm is increasing
5:28 – It’s raining! Bart just got hit by an Illinois raindrop. Did it have speed? It clearly came from a great height. (Joking)
5:29 – Base is going to stay at base, because some of base went chasing.
5:30 – Tennis ball-sized hail in Kankakee. We could have something to our N, but we are staying due to Joe’s flat tire. Computer warning: we’re entering a twisting storm.
5:50 – Leaving to catch up with Joe. There’s a storm to the N with 62dbz that Bart does not believe is real. He thinks the location of the radar is off, and says he’ll eat the van if the storm is real. Zach wants to know what van? Bart replies that he meant the SUV. Zach wants to know if this would include Tuba, and this is not dignified with an answer.
5:59 – Tornado warning in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Zach is again reminded about headlights.
6:02 – We decide the radar is off by about 5 miles, and the storm looks decent on radar and has a possible anemic lowering.
6:07 – The storm is shrinking on the radar like the first one.
6:09 – Seven tornado warnings from northwest Terre Haute extending back W and/or SW towards St. Louis. The line extends from just S of Valparaiso to St. Louis. There is no moisture left, so it would be surprising if Iowa got anything.
6:21 – Joe’s car hasn’t been taken care of yet, so we will go meet him at the place. There is some stuff out there, but nothing near the Quad Cities, so we should have a comfortable ride to the hotel.
6:22 – There’s something NE of the Quad cities, but we are not sure what yet. It has a fresh setup so it isn’t affected by the storms that have already passed.
6:23 – Arrive at the service center.
6:50 – We’re going to an Amoco station briefly before going after 62dbz storm. This storm has fresh air to suck in and a tremendous outflow boundary that would help make the cell produce tornadoes. It’s moving ENE at 36mph.
6:51 – We are at the gas station and not filling up yet.
6:56 – It’s an undisturbed cell with shear-age.
6:57 – The storm is 69 miles from here and at 68dbz. Thunderstorm warning issued to Whiteside County. We see it at 1:30 and we will try for it, even though we have a late start.
7:01 – We are heading down interstate 80 and we’ll go N on 26.
7:02 – Plan change. We will take I-39 N to 30.
7:03 – Spot overshooting top that is very, very massive. We are still about half an hour away from where we’d like to be. Storm is at 70dbz.
7:06 – This is a beast. A line may try to form N of it, but it is the S end cell.
7:07 – We need to go about 26 miles N and then turn W to go directly at it.
7:10 – There is some development S of the cell, so it will probably not remain an individual cell for very long. All the storms are going linear.
7:12 – New plan. We will take Exit 66.
7:14 – The storm has a slight weakening and is now 62dbz. We see an updraft about to come in.
7:16 – Another storm of 59dbz with weak cell structure developing to the S. Penny-sized hail and damaging winds reported.
7:18 – Dewpoints in the mid-60s. We think we’ll stay S of US-30. Storm is currently 43 miles away.
7:19 – Storm is now 62dbz and 41 miles away. We feel we should stay E of it.
7:23 – The storm is now 66dbz and continues to look impressive. It is still by itself while other storms are going linear all around it. Currently 38 miles away
7:25 – Severe thunderstorm warning issued for the county we are in. The storm is moving at 48mph with 60-70 mph winds. Comment: GORGEOUS!!!
7:29 – We are trying to find a road so we can go N a little bit.
7:32 – The storm is developing a wall cloud, so we are going to turn off and pull to the side of the road.
7:35 – We are located one mile SW of Sublette, Illinois.
7:55 – Severe thunderstorm warning for Bureau County.
8:05 – We will go N a bit on 52 to see if we can catch anything. Side note: we were just on Front Street.
8:09 – We are heading due N. We suspect that the storm died because it intercepted the boundary, so we’ll head N a bit more and get rolled by it for a great shelf cloud.
8:13 – We are parked one mile N of Sublette off of 52 on unnamed road so we can watch the shelf cloud. Comments: Awesome. Amazing. Spectacularly stupendously fantastic. Wow.
8:23 – Leaving for the hotel. We’re getting on 52 and heading SE and seeing if we can get another shot at the gust front.
8:27 – We see other chasers who happen to have orange blinkers.
8:31 – We spot another storm in the upper 50s for reflectivity. It’s become outflow dominant and is dissipating.
8:32 – Ironically, we have driven 3,000+ miles and one of the most picturesque storms was right in our backyard.
8:34 – We have had the best luck with bad luck that we could possibly have. J
8:35 – Cars start conversing about cows. We see two cows fighting with interlocked horns and start a factual conversation that makes Zach disgusted.
8:36 – A discussion/argument over schools and their admission procedures segues into sleeping arrangements.
8:43 – Enter La Moille. Bessie decides this should be pronounced “Le Moo” and hypothesizes that this is the home of Brisket.
8:46 – Question of whether a rickety high bridge scares anyone; Tuba has an idea for tomorrow.
8:48 – Shear markers are on the storms hitting Chicago. One storm with a 116mph shear marker is heading for Kenosha. Just kidding, it wasn’t really that high. Poor Steph is getting picked on…
8:51 – Tomorrow, we’ll head W and NW. We will discuss how we want to do that after we see tomorrow’s day 2 outlook. Initial indications are that the night after tomorrow will have LP supercells, which are the most picturesque storms you could see.
8:54 – We may go to a restaurant remembered from a prior chase for dinner, and see the Black Hills and possibly Mount Rushmore tomorrow.
8:55 – We are about 45 minutes from the hotel. Weather discussion tomorrow morning will be at 8:00, and we will leave at 8:30.
8:57 – Bart is getting zinged…all that’s left of his memory is a song on the radio… This leads to storytime with Bart, and Zach is told to heed the love advice contained in the story. Deep SW Texas has massive convection in the San Angelo area.
9:06 – Bart reminds us to start thinking about our extra day.
9:07 – Zach gives Bart instructions on how to fix the suction cup that fell off the Pilot earlier.
9:15 – Bart learns that a lot of buses now have TVs.
9:29 – We are at our hotel, and the storms will probably hit us tonight. Bart announces there will be a GPS challenge tomorrow.
Day 7
8:00 – Discussion: The Dakotas don’t look as nice as we thought. The difficulty is with the cap. Kansas is VERY capped, and South Dakota has a lesser cap. There isn’t a lot of energy aloft to the S; the thermal upflow with a huge cap limits the potential. SPC still has a moderate for today with 10% hatched tornado in Indiana and 30% hail in Ohio. We feel that the cells will be large enough to drop a tornado before they turn into a line.
Plans: We can travel today to get to the Dakotas for the next few days, but if we decide to chase in Indiana today, then we will not be able to chase anymore. Choices, choices… EVIL choices!!!
3200-3500 CAPE: these are high values for possibility of tornadoes. Indiana and Illinois are looking very good. 6Z run isn’t as impressive. None of the MDs are mentioning tornadoes. If we go into Indiana/Illinois, we will have to be there when a tornado forms to be able to see it before it becomes rain-wrapped. We know there will be tornadoes, but the chances of being perfectly positioned are slim. Also feel that any tornadoes that do form will not be significant.
Choices: Go west: with southwesterly flow then we will get storms. Go east: there will be tornadoes, but there is no guarantee we will see them
Only 2 things we haven’t seen in the plains: “flying saucer” supercell and an LP.
We will reconvene at 9:25 after Bart calls Jarred at the SPC.
9:25 – Jarred thinks we should go west. SPC overdid the outlook a little, and he thinks tomorrow in Colorado has potential. The Indiana and Illinois storms will predominantly have wind damage, and we should go for it only if there isn’t going to be anything else for the next few days.
Contemplation of the Spite index: this is the likelihood of a storm spawning tornadoes solely because we went the other way.
Colorado has a warm front and better winds aloft. Both the Nebraska panhandle and NE Colorado look good, but this is not a tornado pattern.
Decide to go W on I-80 and get a hotel in North Platte or Lexington.
10:00 – Loading cars and checking out, some scrambling.
10:27 – Departure. We are going across the bridge Tuba mentioned last night. We have a hotel in Lexington.
10:30 – Realize TOILET has been retired, and reminisce. It was used instead of radar to determine where the storms were based on where the lightning was.
10:36 – Pass Chase bank on the right,:possible sign from God…
10:37 – Learn that in the days before internet there was an 800 number to call and a way to hook in to the university network. Pay phones were used to get updates from base.
10:47 – Crossing the bridge over Mississippi River and drive through Arsenal Island.
10:52 – We have now officially been in all 4 of the Quad Vities.
10:54 – Stop for gas at Amoco station
11:09 – Back on the road.
11:12 – Zach reminded about lights. Story time with Bart: Professor Jon Kilpinen reached the drinking age three times due to moving to 3 different states while the legal age was still getting shifted around.
11:16 – Warnings in Indiana. MCS is in Nashville
11:17 – Satellite shows it is clear in the S part of Indiana with storms and cloudiness in the north.
11:20 – Car 4 has a problem with their CB, so Car 1 sings a corn song to help them figure out how to fix it so they can hear everyone. Technically violate song copyright law stating you can only use less than 30 seconds without permission. This reminds Bart that he needs to find a way to copy more than one DVD at a time so he can make more copies of the storm chase DVD made last year.
11:32 – Radar shows that we will go through some showers, but it will stop by the time we are in central Iowa.
12:00 – Update: slight risk in Colorado extending down to Oklahoma
12:04 – day 1 in Indiana has a skull and crossbones (first time ever used). Supercells with damaging winds and hail are the main threat with isolated tornadoes possible. Slight risk in W Nebraska: upslope and the low level jet could give rise to supercells. We might be able to chase today, but we aren’t counting on it. The supercell index is a bull’s eye on McCook Nebraska 36 hours out. There is some action forecast for tomorrow. From Omaha westward it is completely sunny with no clouds.
12:07 – Yay for Zach figuring out which laugher snorts, cries, or hiccups.
12:10 – Consider passing forgotten ipod between cars 2 and 5, but slight risk of droppage and moderate risk of getting obliterated by a semi turns the vote to ‘no’.
12:18 – Light storms are in central Indiana and Illinois, and there is some clearing in central and S Indiana, but nothing of consequence is happening
12:40 – Car 2 is asking about a bathroom and lunch break.
12:45 – Still nothing new in Indiana.
12:47 – Spot mini-van pulling a mini-van…unusual…
12:48 – Some cells are initializing east of Indianapolis.
1:07 – Update: the day 2 outlook is the same as this morning. W Nebraska and NE Colorado look good tomorrow, also predicting action in the Dakotas. After tomorrow we will drift N. An MD is out for Detroit to Indianapolis and S of there. They are predicting tornadoes will occur before the storms go linear.
1:19 – Decide to stop on the other side of Des Moines.
1:38 – Lines are forming in Indiana already: an E-W line and several short line segments.
1:42 – Stopping for food across from the Iowa Conference hotel.
2:03 – Back in the cars and heading out.
2:17 – Radar shows that all activity in Indiana is linear. 14 thunderstorm warnings have been issued – no tornadoes. There is a line from South Bend to just N of Lafayette with a few showers behind it. There is also a blob of death south of Toledo.
2:20 – Begin the GPS challenge.
2:41 – 31 warnings issued in Indiana, 4 tornado warnings issued for the same cell.
3:02 – Car 5 wins GPS challenge.
Scores were:
Car 1: 2
Car 2: 0
Car 3: 1
Car 4: 2
Car 5: 3
Car 1 hits a bird – all you can see is feathers. There are now 46 warnings, 2 lines SE of Toledo, everything else is in Mississippi. Indianapolis is dark on both sides with nothing at that point.
3:07 – Stop for gas.
3:23 – Back on the road again
3:30 – 54 warnings in Mississippi, Indiana, and Illinois. 9 tornado warnings in the S part of the line, but they look as if they will expire soon.
3:48 – Dinner at a nice restaurant is proposed; all cars either approve or are indifferent.
4:03 – Tuba cuts in front of a trucker and behind a blue car. The trucker honks at him. Margin for error: 6 inches either way.
4:15 – 43 severe weather warnings, 11 tornado warnings in Indiana, Illinois, and Mississippi. Several of the tornado warnings should expire soon. There is a squall line N of Cincinnati to W of Cleveland to SW tip of Indiana and a blob from Ft Wayne going S. All storms have now gone linear.
4:28 – Pilot requests nail polish for the crack in their windshield. CLEAR nail polish.
4:23 – Box in a truck until it reaches its exit. Decide that if we wish to repeat this exercise, we will say “Storm Team Assemble!”
4:47 – Silver car cuts off Car 4: Storm Team Assemble!
4:50 – Car narrowly gets off highway.
4:53 – Block in a white Impala. He is not happy, and he has his girlfriend with him. Success!!!
4:54 – No tornado warnings out except down in Ohio valley. Indiana has a giant storm line.
5:02 – The increasing traffic behind us forces us to let the Impala go. Storm Team Disassembled.
5:05 – Nice bow echo is about to cross the E Indiana border. Begin to box in Orange SUV, but we decide to give up due to long-reaching effects on traffic.
5:07 – Decide on having a group dinner when we get to Lexington
5:10 – Major MCS in central Indiana, huge bow echo going through Indiana S of Ft Wayne. There is one current tornado warning in S Indiana and one in Ohio. A storm in SE Colorado is going NE toward our hotel, and the only other storm in existence is in the Texas panhandle.
5:18 – 312 miles away from severe weather in SE Colorado. The day after tomorrow has a record high of 100 degrees in Nebraska
5:31 – Start trivia game: people thinking of whatever trivia they know.
5:35 – Currently, there is a solid line along the Ohio River and a couple of cells in Kentucky ahead of the line
5:47 – Richland County Ohio has a flood warning.
5:54 – Storytime with Bart: Why you shouldn’t gamble and how coloring a pattern of dots on a scantron placement test could place you in Calc 2
5:56 – Storm is heading for our hotel; it will be there in 12 hours.
6:14 – See the Weenie Mobile!!! Bart: “I haven’t seen the Weenie in years!” How many are left? 4
6:16 – Jarred thinks things will be interesting on the Palmer divide
6:29 – Discuss the AMS seal and how to obtain it; more information in the fall
6:32 – realize we passed Teresa’s hometown yesterday. Currently 37 miles from the hotel
6:35 – Storytime with Bart: why you should not get a graduate degree for a broadcast position. On occasion they will hire a person with an advanced degree for bragging rights. Houston once offered Bart a job for that purpose.
6:45 – 21 miles to hotel
6:47 – Cell of 55-60dbz drifting at 5kn to the E and/or SE is W of Amarillo
6:53 – 11 miles to hotel
7:00 – Car 3: Car Volcano, Car 2: Car O, Car 5: Car Awesome (r)
7:05 – At hotel, problem with room, but it is figured out. We are taking our stuff to rooms before going out for steak dinner.
At dinner: Tuba gets a storm roll. Unfortunately, he eats it instead of choosing to have it preserved.
Day 8
8:00 Discussion: Bart is late due to phone call from his girlfriend (wife).
Yesterday: 2 tornado reports in Indiana, 2 in Ohio, all in bad chasing grounds. COD is in Bloomington Illinois
Current MCS is reinforcing the boundary. Fire warnings are out: possible for whole of eastern Colorado to go up. This pattern is similar to 2 years ago when this did happen.
Tornado chances for the rest of the trip are today and tomorrow although the temp/dpt gradient is too large.
Tomorrow we have a 30% in North Dakota. There is a strong boundary layer in the Dakotas tomorrow with supercells likely to develop on the cold side. If we chase tomorrow, we will be going home on Monday. There is a slight risk on Sunday that we could chase before heading home. We must make our decision about the extra day now, we decide we will be staying the extra day.
There is a key point – a triple point warm front, dryline intersection just to the NE with E winds.
We will wait for the 12Z NAM and reconvene at 9:15
9:15 – we are looking at the kink in the center of Nebraska to see if we want to stay further S. We don’t think anything will happen in South Dakota or farther S, so we are going to try for a hotel in Valentine. It would take 2 hours to get there, and then we will start to head for the Dakotas tomorrow (about 7 hours)
Preparing for a LONG drive: we are planning to leave tomorrow morning for Dakotas as soon as the day 1 outlook is out. Discussion will be at 7:30 and we will leave at 8am.
9:45 – Verify that we will be staying at the Comfort Inn in Valentine since the Holiday Inn was full (Memorial Day weekend!). Aim to depart at 10am
10:07 – We depart.
10:08 – Stop for gas.
10:25 – Back on the road. Spot a truck similar to the one we saw in Colorado.
10:28 – Begin trivia questions (history).
11:09 – Pilot is protesting their low point count since they only have 3 people. Claim denied. Breaking until after lunch
11:11 – Spot camel in field on right of interstate.
11:13 – Bart suggests we stop at rest stop a little W of North Platte just in case the new Day 1 outlook shifts E.
11:15 – Every single military troop passed through this area during WWII on their way to the Pacific and every morning people would give them coffee and breakfast. Biggest dairy farm in central plains is a little N of where we are now.
11:22 – Temp/Dpt: Car 4 76/98, Car 2 79/49.5
11:27 – Stopping at rest stop
11:37 – 23mph wind max from S, SE
11:43 – New Day 1 outlook: the 5% tornado outlook slid S with Valentine as the N anchor and extending down S toward Lexington. We will be in center of the 5%. Best chance on Nebraska/Kansas border for tornadic supercells. Happy spot: Holyoke to McCook Nebraska S of I80, so S half of Nebraska is area of interest. We will go to Ogallala for lunch, and reassess the situation as new information comes in.
11:47 – Spot ‘A’ in sky: prophesied grade.
11:55 – New outlook: NE and E central Colorado going into SW Nebraska. Nothing appears further N, so we may not have anything in Dakotas.
12:10 – Now in Ogallala and we are getting lunch, meeting at Subway at 12:30.
12:30 – Wind speed in the mid teens
12:45 – Suggest heading SW from here: take 61 to Groundstar. We think we need to go S to see tornadoes. We will head to Imperial and reassess the situation then.
12:55 – New RUC predicts activity closer to North Platte, but we feel S will be better. Imperial-McCook area is our instinctive feel. Day 2: if the cap breaks tornadoes are possible in the Dakotas, but otherwise we will get a “MCS type thingy”
1:09 – Currently on 61 and heading for Imperial
1:18 – Sight either Brisket or Sirloin of Beef. Entering Chase County – good omen?
1:30 – Sitting in Imperial until we ascertain where we should go from here.
1:36 – Base support down to 1 person for the rest of the day. Can call Jarred if need to. Still searching for place to sit.
1:37 – Gas stop
1:51 – Looking for place to stop. Tuba sees trains and has aneurysm. Elevation ~3400 ft
1:54 – Sitting in hotel parking lot in hopes of gaining wireless access.
2:03 – Decide to drift back the way we came. 4 EHI in central Kansas; the focus is more S now that the front is suppressed. We will not go S farther than I70; Bart is calling Jarred.
2:06 – Park in lot near radio station across from train tracks in hopes of stronger wireless signal. On edge of Imperial off of 6.
2:38 – Best to drift W of Holyoke and a little S. Wray is the farthest W we would go. Wait, never mind. We’ve stopped again.
2:46 – Supercell composite is better to the E, so we’re going to sit until 3 and then decide on our destination.
2:52 – New Day 1 outlook: 5% tornado is back into Colorado and Nebraska. If it is no longer in Kansas going to Holyoke, we may go to Yuma. Vorticity max is moving in from Colorado; we don’t want to go too far S.
2:54 – COD is complaining about S Indiana; no sight due to trees. They were forced to bag it for the Dakotas and get there tomorrow.
2:55 – No MDs, or watches as of yet with Day 1 outlook.
2:58 – Nothing really on radar, little tiny things in far Colorado.
3:23 – storm warning issued for Albert County; storm is moving very slowly and heading for W of here.
3:26 – Tornado warning effective for hour and a half. Suggestion to go W is OK’d by all cars.
3:29 – Possibly go as far W as Sterling.
3:39 – MD is out: generic watch in the next hour predicting high winds and possible tornado threat extending from Denver and going E. Will likely cause a MCS later with the help of the low level jet and will cause widespread destruction. We will sit in Paxton.
3:45 – Paxton, stopping here until we have more information.
3:46 – Have forecast claiming tornadoes for local town of Ft Morgan; ~110-120 miles from relevant convection.
3:56 – Wind gusting at 24mph, usually in high teens.
4:00 – Dust devil! Crosses road ahead of us.
4:06 – Gust of 26mph.
5:40 – Eddie: “Make sure there're no burrs on that”
Kevin: “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrgg!”
5:41 – Tornado watch issued.
5:45 – Heading out. Cell SW of us looks good. A box is in Nebraska and NW Kansas. This storm is heading into an area with moisture. We are going back to Holyoke and then heading S to Wray.
5:50 – Develop flanking line, see CU trying to develop in darker blue area.
5:52 – Storm is moving ENE between 25 and 30 mph.
5:53 – Temp/Dpt 80/43 by Car 4
5:55 – 99/12 in Springfield, Colorado (SW)
5:58 – Storm has a shear marker on it now. It looks to be the best storm with a marker.
6:00 – Storm to SW: 50 miles to its core.
6:03 – Sunset in 3 hrs.
6:04 – Significant weather advisory in Yuma County: nickel sized hail and strong winds.
6:06 – 37 miles to Wray. The storm should be N of Wray, which is what we want (so we won’t have to punch anything)
6:08 – 61 in Peoria, 59 in Holyoke. Holyoke and Imperial have high dewpoints signifying boundary. Akron has a 39 dewpoint.
6:10 – As storm hits moisture, it should intensify. It is about to hit Yuma.
6:13 – Storm development has weakened a bit and intensity has dropped off.
6:14 – Currently in front of storm warning.
6:29 – Car 2: Temp/Dpt 89/50.
6:32 – Storm generation is visually bad so we will go to Wray and decide next course of action.
6:40 – Stop for gas.
6:50 – Back on the road and heading E. The Oakley storm doesn’t look like anything. It does look like something might happen to the E. We will re-evaluate once we get over there.
7:00 – Secondary chance to catch something for next 2 hrs. We will see how it goes.
7:04 – Car 2 takes Temp/Dpt reading 88/59.
7:05 – There is action in SW Nebraska and one storm W of Valentine. Supercell indexes do not look good right now. All other storms have gone dead. Car 3’s CB is broken.
7:07 – Storms coming off Scott’s Bluff for our hotel, so we will bust N and catch it if at all possible.
7:10 – Blob reforming near Holyoke. Oakley Colorado storm does not look that good.
7:12 – Suggestion to go to Benkelman Nebraska and wait to see what pops up.
7:16 – See towers to SW and behind us. We are still going to Benkelman for decision point.
7:18 – Temp/Dpt 85/65. We may be in a corridor of moisture right now.
7:22 – Forecast for McCook: 80% chance of Thunderstorms tonight as well as a chance of tornadoes, also sunny tomorrow with temp 101.
7:28 – Radar has shut down, working to fix it.
7:29 – Preparing for Operation CB Swap.
7:32 – We feel the storm we see at 11 o’clock (we are going N on 61) has the best chance, although it’s a little small. McCook has a SW wind (with good shear) with a 64 dewpoint. Goodland has a Temp/Dpt of 93/34.
7:37 – Number of storms are developing; the best looking one we are already following, but all look decent. Successfully exchanged CBs for Car 3.
7:38 – Storm to SE is blowing back to the W. Suggestion made that we head N and watch some storms developing. The one good one is de-intensifying, so we will find a place to stop for the moment
7:40 – Turn in on Rd 709 to sit, in fairly good position.
7:52 – Heading back out. We release base support. Currently going N on 61 and it looks like we’ll have a lightning storm on the way to the hotel.
7:55 – 54dbz for storm at 11 o’clock heading NNE; we’re 50 miles SE of it so we will try to catch it.
7:59 – 65 min to sunset
8:00 – Forecast for tomorrow is 100 with wind gusts of 45mph. Our storm is dying.
8:03 – Calling it a day. All storms died out, no structure. One storm elsewhere had a tornado watch, but nothing happened. It is capped everywhere and looks like the cap will be strong tomorrow also.
8:06 – Orphan anvil, it looks like roll Tuba had yesterday.
8:07 – Heading to hotel.
8:08 to 8:22 – Trivia
8:23 – Core punching orphan anvil. All readings are miserable, and the storm in Scott’s Bluff has half the worlds lightning in it. J
8:24 to 8:44 Trivia
8:44 – Severe watch in Davis County. Currently storm is heading for our hotel; if it turns S or SE we will be wacked. Decision: should we go E to North Platte and N to Valentine or just go due N?
8:54 – Going N on 61 to see lightning. Thunderstorm warning for county W of Cherry County. Lots of shear.
9:00 – 122 miles to storm, 144 miles to Valentine (straight line distance)
9:02 – Storm right behind us blew up! “Say hello to LL Cool Jay!” Approximately over Benkelman: just a heavy storm, no shear. It may get a warning due to its intensity.
9:03 – 9:10 Trivia
9:10 – 63dbz on storm to S
9:10 to 9:22 – Trivia
9:22 – All storms are dying except for one that is turning into a bow echo in E Kansas.
9:22 to 9:30 – Trivia
9:30 – Trivia game halted so Bart may rest his eyes.
9:31 – Electrical storm is weakening slightly, all activity is dying. Outflow boundary from before has shut down everything W of the bow echo in Kansas.
9:40 – Pass Hershey Nebraska. Topeka Kansas mainly has all current activity.
9:48 – One of Anna’s poems, too dark to write
9:52 – Stop for gas and snacks.
10:01 – Leave station; Tuba is too eager for Taco Johns and left Steph behind.
10:03 – Taco Johns
10:11 – Depart w/ all people.
10:14 – Anna does another poem; too dark to record it quickly enough.
10:17 – Pass Teresa’s favorite restaurant.
10:24 – Warning is issued for Valentine. Plan in the morning is to meet at 7:45 and leave at 8:00.
10:33 – Kansas storm has a 15mph shear marker.
10:35 – The crack on the Pilot must have been some kind of residue; it chipped off.
10:40 – 110 to 115 miles to Valentine.
10:41 – Anna Poem
Forecast Discussion, Forecast Discussion
So early in the morning
Please give us severe weather and
Maybe a tornado warning
The poem from earlier repeated for recording:
Skididraminky rinky dink
Skididraminky rinky doo
Taco Johns makes you have to blroooooot.
(Spelling declared to be close enough)
10:47 – Storms strengthening and will likely hit the hotel about the same time we arrive there.
10:51 – The storm is turning SE; if we stopped about 25 miles ahead of where we are now we’d get destroyed.
10:54 – storm about 85 miles away, but we are on a collision course with it. This is proof that the plains have their maximum activity after dark.
10:56 – There is also a storm following us. North Platte is getting pounded.
11:04 – Warnings issued for Lincoln County. We have lots of wind due to our position between 2 storms.
11:10 – Enter an area of darkest darkness, maybe there’s a star-gazing convention… (Joking)
11:15 – 64dbz storm to the northwest 60 miles away.
11:21 – 65 miles to Valentine
11:24 – Storm to the northwest is the last and has 58dbz. It is heading S of Valentine
11:26 – We learn of a radio station studio W of Valentine that plays country by day and oldies at night.
11:44 – Last storm is slowly drying up.
12:12 – Lightning storm: Wow.
12:23 – Reach hotel.
Day 9
7:45 – looking to get hotel in Jamestown, North Dakota. Day 1 outlook: 10% hatched tornado extending from Bismarck to border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Expect low to strengthen and cause high shear. Hail 30% hatched and 15% wind, nearly a moderate. Must go N to look for initiation.
8:16 – We depart going N.
9:45 – Planning to stop for gas in Pierre.
10:13 – Stopped for gas.
10:21 – Resume travel. Radar is working although it is still somewhat temperamental.
10:35 – Adventures in Pierre; Pilot breaks away ahead of the caravan. The caravan is eventually reunited.
11:02 – Feel sorry for the children out here who are deprived of trick or treating.
11:03 – Minot Temp/Dpt 55/54, N wind of 16mph. Bismarck Temp/Dpt 75/61, SSE wind of 9mph.
11:30 – Day 1 outlook: decreased to 5% tornado from Canada to Minot to Bismarck (all potential activity currently N of Bismarck).
11:54 – COD heading the same way as we are, currently they are just E of us.
11:55 – Chasers ahead of us! We are taking 83 to interstate and we will have lunch there at about 1:30-1:45.
12:03 – Trivia begun. No record of questions: too fast to write
12:20 – Run into three trucks with oversized loads. We are stuck. They are working their way around a ditch; independent turning wheels with some manual assistance: 22 wheeler. “Psychogenesis”: another trucker got out coming the other way to talk with last trucker.
12:36 – Successful passage of truck!!!!
12:47 – Enter North Dakota.
1:02 – Day 2 looks mostly the same; it has only shifted slightly. The boundary may move N, but convection will make it move E. We are in Cap City (Blue Skies).
1:33 – Kevin kills passing bug with hand. Such pleasant news.
1:39 – Frontage at 10 o’clock to 11:30 from our position (we’re currently going N, W of Bismarck)
2:00 – Stop for lunch and gas.
3:02 – Leave, heading N on 83 to position copied by Cars Duct Tape, Volcano, 4 (the car that is so indescribably awesome it can’t be named), and Awesome. (A.k.a. Car 2, Car 3, Car 4, and Car 5.)
3:12 – Heading N and then E. Strongest development is E of 83. Wave is in North Dakota, so we have to stay ahead of it if we want to see anything.
3:21 – The wave is now between Bismarck and Dickinson propagating to the NE. Prudent to sit somewhere N of Bismarck; we think it will blow when the nocturnal jet kicks in. However, if it pops earlier it is perfect for supercells to form.
3:22 – Spot wind farm; may be destination of trucks seen earlier.
3:24 – Sunset is in exactly 6 hours.
3:34 – Stop ~ 1mi E of Wilton, ~25 mi N of Bismarck.
3:44 – Nap time… all of Pilot asleep but me, others playing outside.J Bart snores… if you wanted to know. J
4:08 – 20mph gust. Spot tower to S or SW, and wave clouds (inversion indication) at 2 o’clock (we are facing W).
4:25 – Capped. Stuff “percolating” from W to NE.
4:53 – Tornado watch issued! Watch extends from South Dakota border NNE to Canadian border to Minnesota border and down through Jamestown (we’re SW of center). Predict 4-inch hail. Must break cap, but as storms form and mature a tornado will be likely. Storms won’t go linear very fast since the boundary is nigh-stationary (if it moves, it will go E).
5:15 – Heading out E.
5:20 – Pass warning sign: Mine Underground, Sinkhole.
5:23 – S to Bismarck and then going to track on interstate.
5:25 – Stuff going insane now: Supercell composite is 26 and becomes 20 as you go S of Bismarck. Moisture convergence has value of 15, and EHI has value of 7.
5:28 – dihdihdihdihdih question mark? dihdihdihdihdih exclamation point!
5:30 – This is looking real nice; it wants to spin, it just doesn’t know it yet. Hail will be baseball to grapefruit sized. Car 2 is valiantly ready to core punch. Anemometer reads 107mph wind while Car 2 is driving at 80mph.
5:31 – Temp/Dpt 89/61
5:33 – Normally takes 1 to 1½ hours after initiation for tornado to form; inflow band is already present.
5:36 – Watch boxes lasting to midnight. These are the lowest bases so far this trip on top of the best values for parameters!
5:38 – Take first road past rest stop out of Bismarck for ease of watching. Towers are not organized yet.
5:52 – Radar shows yellow in the storm directly behind us.
5:53 – Since we are pretty close to Day 2, outlook update has E half of Dakotas at 15%, so we will have 9 am discussion which will let us sleep. The only constraint tomorrow is to stay far enough E so we can go home the next day.
5:57 – Anna’s cheer for storm:
“Thunderstorm, Thunderstorm you make me smile.
We’re going to a rest stop in 1mile.
Yea – whatever!”
5:59 – Take exit 170 for temporary observation spot. We will get further E later to track the storm. We are on frontage road next to the highway. Storm is ~30 miles away from us.
6:25 – Heading E and N. Must go in this order or we will get stuck. There is a secondary boundary moving back W toward what we’re watching that could make things explode. Significant tornado parameters starting to show up in analysis ; getting at cell(s) may be problematic.
6:28 – New road route in order not to go as far E, exit 176.
6:30 – Never mind, we have officially found Bob’s road, going to exit 182.
6:31 – Storm is moving N at 23mph and has 65dbz. If it rides the boundary and goes N it will probably drop something. Spot hail shaft!!!
6:37 – Gas up, we are the 4th group of chasers through the station today.
6:40 – On our way. Clear to E, unimpeded inflow. Dihdihdihdihdihdihdih
6:46 – Looking for DECENT side road.
6:47 – Pass chasers on 81st road (took our spot). Have roads with pole-age.
6:48 – Road found! PERFECT at hilltop!!! Best road ever!!!
6:51 – Stopped. Watching from spot on road 14 (N of I-90 exit 282 by ~ 5 miles).
7:01 – Severe Thunderstorm warning for Bismarck. No outflow yet, so we’re ok as long as the wind doesn’t die.
7:08 – Developing inflow band, may get a bigger cell if it does not go linear.
7:13 – Chasers arrive, go down and turn back up road and leave.
7:16 – Looking better.
7:18 – Cheering for storm to turn right.
7:37 – Storm to S heading straight for us has 59dbz. We’re gonna get slammed!
7:40 – Gustnado!!! S of us, there is an ominous cloud of death coming straight for us. Lightening!!! Storm is going to drop baseball sized hail.
7:45 – Cell to N dying out. Cell to S going super! Any second it’s going to drop something. We can go S for a bit and then go E on the highway. We have to get around rain core.
7:48 – We are ~ 2 mi S of I-90 on exit 182. There is a lot of CG. We are going to see something! Hail shaft at 3 o’clock (heading S). We are actually in a good position going S.
7:51 – We are going S of interstate and taking side road. We see downburst at 3 o’clock. There is a lot of CG so we are not getting out of the car.
7:55 – Driving again. There is a new wall cloud formed WNW. It isn’t well defined, but it has good potential. Tornado watch issued until midnight. We may go back to our previous location. Storm has no rotation and 64dbz.
7:58 – We will edge (‘bleed’) a little bit N. We are no longer able to see; we see wall cloud temporarily before turn.
8:00 – There is a storm developing currently behind the one we are watching. We travel east to take exit 190.
8:03 – The storm is booking N. We are still going E in hope of exit 190 being a good road.
8:06 – Storm is heading for Regan and Wing, and has a history of damaging hail. Wind 80 mph and gusts measuring 100 to 106 mph.
8:08 – Pave-age!!! Taking exit 190; Many driveways – we are looking for 97th.
8:13 – We are far enough away to exit cars. We are stopped 4 mi N of exit 190 on I90. The structure is not as healthy but is definitely a “beast”! If anything happens it will be near this road.
8:50 – Storm de-structurized. We are going S back to interstate. It is possible rain cooled and stabilized air ahead of the storm is causing it to die. We are returning to rd 14 S and W to view the storm to the S. It is still very comfortably SW.
9:00 – Severe storm warning for S-central North Dakota.
9:01 – Storm to S “meteorological lasso of death”.
9:03 – Storm has 63dbz and is 28 miles away. There are chasers in 2 white vans ahead of us.
9:08 – Storm is 23 miles away and still has 63dbz. ~2.5 miles for us to reach a good road. The storm to the N has re-intensified.
9:12 – The N storm is intensifying and has 68dbz and no shear. The storm we are chasing has minimal shear and 62dbz. Scud is going up and a wall cloud is possible.
9:18 – The northern storm has 64dbz and the S storm 62dbz. (We are chasing southern storm)
9:20 – We have a potential hook echo and it still has shear.
9:23 – The storm is dying. It has merged with the cell behind it. Watches are being canceled. We are stopped 8 to 9 miles S of I90.
9:40 – We are going back toward I90.
9:44 – Tone! National Weather Service issues Severe Thunderstorm warning for NE counties of North Dakota.
9:49 – Dead-end; wait, this is Moffet Rd. “The rabbit is wise, the rabbit is good.” (Referring to Mark B.)
9:57 – Choices: a) stay and watch lightning b) go to hotel. Most people either don’t care or want to stay for only a little while.
9:58 – Warning: “Do not drive through flooded roadways – turnaround, don’t drown.” J
9:59 – Severe Thunderstorm warning for E Morton County for large damaging hail (golf ball sized).
10:05 – There are worries that we will go into Canada. We contemplate going so far that we’ll see the sun come up again.
10:27 – We are finished with the lightning show and heading back to hotel. Wait, Bart is sad. He wants to stay until midnight… “All right, we can go…” (Kidding) Our hotel in Jamestown is ~ 80 miles away.
10:34 – We suspect storms will approach our hotel later. We see darker sky suggesting approaching storms. The only reason we didn’t get what we expected is lack of moisture. It is rare to have moisture starvation for the entire trip.
11:55 – At hotel.
Day 10
9:00 – Discussion: All capped since it is so warm aloft. “It’s subtle.” (Sarcasm) Supercell index: targets SE South Dakota, and Iowa later in the day
Aberdeen: loaded gun?! Deep moist boundary layer and loaded gun in Rapid City. There is a convective temperature of 103 in Aberdeen. Main difference between today and yesterday: strong 500mb wave.
Superstition: Spite index is high – if we leave, it will be wasted; if we stay, we will be sunburned.
700mb temperatures mostly prohibit action; maybe in a perfect situation we could get something, but if and only if it was perfect. CAPE is no problem, cap is…
Yesterday was not all due to lack of moisture; once it moved E it ran into the cap and died. We are looking for a wave to trigger something, not finding one. Isn’t a death ridge, but it is a similar pattern to what was had last year during the 1st chase. We must stay in Sioux Falls to get home. Traffic will be TERRIBLE tomorrow since it’s Memorial Day.
Choices: stay and see and stay in Sioux Falls or go home. Will go sightseeing if not see anything. We figure ~10 hrs. to get home from Sioux Falls. Heading out in 10 min (9:55).
10:09 – Departing. Gassing up at BP next door
10:20 – Departure, heading straight S on hwy 281.
10:25 – Realize we are only ~ 50 miles from tallest free standing structure in the world (KVLY-TV mast in Mayville, ND).
10:38 – Trivia, not recording questions due to speed.
11:12 – Temp/Dpt 84/66 by Car 2.
11:32 – Car 5 wins Trivia game (History). We will have TV trivia later.
11:38 – See front to the W; it looks like it is coming this way.
11:42 – Retribution on Car 5 suggested by Tuba; he will have Taco Johns and subsequently stink up their rooms. Car 5 says defensive measures will be taken.
11:56 – S on 281.
12:12 – New Day 1 outlook: some shift W. Wind is at 15%; hail is at 30%; 5% tornado. We feel supercells will be nocturnal. Plan to eat at town nearer highway. Consider going to Corn Palace and re-evaluate our position further S. Two options for hotels further E if we choose to bust that way: Worthington and Albert Lea in Minnesota. Consensus of drivers is to go as far E as possible if we choose to do so. Currently going to wait and see before finding the hotel we prefer. Albert Lea is smaller. 700mb temperatures are still ridiculous. We are contemplating canning the chase and starting to head home.
12:25 – Different from yesterday since no strong upper level forcing is present, so if storms form, they may survive to break cap.
12:40 – 15Z RUC: forecasts nothing until 10 tonight. Leaning toward idea of going E as far as we can
12:44 – 90 temp where we are in South Dakota.
12:59 – Boredom warning for Beetle, South Dakota issued. We must call to correct them; we’re chasing some amazing cloud shadows (sarcasm).
1:04 – Temp/Dpt 93/63 by Car 2
1:08 – Enter Wolsey.
1:11 – Planning to eat at interstate.
1:30 – Just passed through the most major intersection in South Dakota (irony).
1:53 – Turn right onto I-90, going into town of Plankinton to stop.
1:58 – Giving up chase, heading to Mitchell (E) for lunch. Release base. We have hotel in Albert Lea Minnesota, sightseeing today.
2:10 – Albert Lea reservations made, laments commence over being forced to sleep farther apart in Queen-sized beds. The guys are heartbroken. *Sob*
2:16 – Temp/Dpt 94-98/low 60s by Car 2
2:21 – Stop for gas and then lunch, meeting back at BP at 3 after we get food.
3:00-3:10 – Tuba wants Taco Johns and thus is 10 minutes late.
3:13 – Heading for Corn Palace.
3:15 – The cow from Kelsey’s sighted on corner: “Howie.”
3:19 – At Corn Palace.
4:08 – Departure for hotel after checking radar.
4:10 – Going through historical district. We learn Mitchell is ~1000 people larger than Pierre.
4:16 – Temp/Dpt 97/61 at Mitchell airport. Temp is 97 in Sioux City. Temp/Dpt is 95/65 in Gary. Boundary is breaking toward the W again.
4:18 – SE Wyoming and NE Colorado and maybe SE Montana have some activity, but nothing is happening anyplace else.
4:21 – Front has technically passed us, mixed out cooler air which leaves only the wind shift for it to have truly passed. MCS is likely tonight.
4:22 – Comment that the Corn Palace tour guide was very amazing and enthusiastic (sarcasm). Also said “Corn Palace” constantly (as often as Valparaiso President says VU).
4:31 – Random fact: South Dakota does not have income tax. That is how they got people to come here, but they do have a user tax.
4:32 – Trivia to begin soon.
4:36 – Storm Team Assemble! On Pilot…J forced to release soon.
4:39 – Pilot deserts caravan. Question: Sign with ‘90’ is speed limit? J Continuing to hotel although Bart has $.
4:44 – Attempt to play trivia game falls flat since we have no book.
4:46 – Casey requests Anna to compose poem mourning the loss of Pilot.
4:52 – Car trouble with Pilot so they are going to catch up later.
4:53 – Pilot catching up.
4:55 – Pass monument: sculpture of cow head.
4:57 – Pass person who has tissue on his face for some peculiar reason only known to him. We are currently going straight E on I-90. Pilot is catching up, CB to Cars 2 and 3 not getting through, but only missed a conversation on world peace and how to solve it: give everyone marshmallows. J
5:12 – Temp/Dpt 97/54 outside of Chicago (Morris)
5:13 – 97/63 here where we are.
5:23 – Car 4 catches up to Cars 2 and 3.
5:26 – Pilot getting closer; CB finally heard by all cars.
5:28 – Pilot returns! J Now in Minnesota
5:30 – Potential rotation in SW Wyoming. Suggestion to chase it vetoed. J
5:31 – Trivia game commencing. Several mis-spoken words (Ex.: homo-cide)
5:38 – 90’s in Indianapolis. We pity drivers in Indy 500 today.
6:10 – 37 at Yellowstone Lake. Car 5 wins Trivia game.
6:11 – All activity occurring far west.
6:16 – Fond memories of Albert Lea; rebuilt crashed computer there for $30 on earlier chase
6:22 – Storm chase trivia
History and TV too
Car 5 is Awesome!
--Anna’s Haiku
6:30 – Teasing Tuba about eating Taco Johns, causing a stink, and the stuff growing on hickory smoked beef jerky.
6:34 – Pass by wind field in distance that Teresa’s husband worked on, and pass by buffalo’s ridge, high point in Minnesota.
6:42 – Bart sings along with “Surfer girl”, somewhat close to on-pitch. Very impressive J
6:44 – Bart suspects he’s coming down with Alzheimer’s. Joe says it is just due to knowing too much useless information.
6:56 – Wind in upper 70s to low 80s while going 75-ish and anemometer distinctively turned to SE.
7:00 – Begin contemplating shirt ideas
7:04 – “Sweet Home Alabama” in response to “Southern Man” by Neil Young (random aside).
7:07 – Warning in farthest SW 2 counties, but nothing really happening.
7:09 – 60 foot Green Giant, stopping to see it in Blue Earth, Minnesota
7:20 – Back on our way. Going to get back on hwy, going E
7:24 – Bart made up 4 verses to “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” inspired by stopping to see Jolly Green Giant.
7:27 – Monster storms in far W Nebraska, just very elevated.
7:29 – Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska: Temp/Dpt 66/43 and has tornado warning (likely because of rotation in storm)
7:32 – At hotel by 8. Want something like pizza or something fast for dinner.
7:34 – Tuba is getting attacked… (Teasing attack)
8:03 – At hotel.
8:10 – Bessie finds air conditioning. Worship commences.
8:15 – Jake’s Pizza order; going to eat in lobby
Day 11
8:15 – Departure. Looking for Amoco gas
8:17 – Wonder about Day 2 and 3 outlooks; Valparaiso had “see text.”
8:22 – Warning in SW-most county in Iowa (moving NNE) coming W of where we’ll be.
8:33 – Amoco stop.
8:48 – Depart heading S until we reach 118 and then head E. We will have story time with Bart down the road.
8:57 – Line forming SW Iowa to NE Kansas (Topeka Kansas to just E of Omaha) moving ENE with cells going NNE, so they may move over interstate. It has to be a strong wave, must be more moist to convect the temperatures lower: dewpoints are between 68 and 72.
9:04 – Temp/Dpt 76/55 by Car 4
9:06 – Temp/Dpt 81.5/67.5 by Car 2
9:08 – Pass maze on right, exit 194-ish, Fun! Maybe next year…
9:10 – Real exit 190. Storytime with Bart after we get on our new road.
9:18 – Waverly, Iowa: College there whose colors are black and construction orange
9:19 – Story time with Bart: Charles City--F5 tornado hit here. They have a monument in the park that talks about it (very old, from before the rating system).
9:33 – Valparaiso Temp/Dpt is 81/72 right now.
9:37 – Taking US 218 exit, new road (finished in the last year, year & ½).
9:42 – Pass Charles City.
10:28 – Taking 118 E. Kankakee temp of 88. Temp/Dpt of 82/72 in Valparaiso
10:33 – T-shirt discussion: Red with White letters: designer choice for shadowing and for other specifics.
11:01 – Car 3 going ahead; Zach has to stop.
11:03 – Stopped for gas/lunch/bathroom.
11:41 – Spot towers above us and E of us “dihdihdihdih” “let’s chase” J
11:43 – Temp/Dpt 84/70 at Valparaiso.
12:01 – Departing from lunch stop.
12:08 – Shirt finalized; storms are popping.
12:18 – Turkey Farm above us (lots of towers with little organization).
12:21 – Car 5’s CB is over modulating something fierce. Radio was interfering. Starting Trivia
12:35 – E, exit for 80; resume game after caravan on 80.
12:46 – Truck ornamentation at 12 o’clock! (Cow bell).
1:01 – Car 5 wins yet again at history Trivia.
1:03 – Illinois has random storms popping.
1:04 – Temp/Dpt 88/70 in Valparaiso
1:09 – Temp/Dpt 92/69 taken by Car 2
1:12 – Going around S side of Quad Cities.
1:16 – Exit onto 280 to go around Quad Cities.
1:30 – Tuba ejects pickles from Pilot; he does not like them on his sandwiches. Other cars appalled at he rejection.
1:32 – Thunderstorm Warning for an Illinois county NNE of here, just issued.
1:35 – News update: Island of Java earthquake/volcano. 5100 dead, 500,000 homeless.
1:37 – exploding storms of 65dbz heading towards Monroe/Madison. Too bad we’re not chasing, must be dropping baseballs.
1:38 – Anna poem inspired by object in vehicle: “Ode to Aquafina”.
1:42 – Storms ahead of us on interstate although most build up is N of interstate. 56dbz storm 12 miles away. Spite index high today: raining, don’t hydroplane! (Sarcasm)
1:47 – Temp/Dpt 90/66 in Quad Cities
1:48 – Discussion of gas stop and traffic and what route would be best.
1:54 – Storms coming up to intersect the road we’re on, could get rolled.
1:57 – Storms to SW in Kankakee, N side of Chicago, and E of Ottawa heading for interstate, hail max 2 inches
1:59 – Bart: “For those of us unfamiliar, this is what happens when the cap breaks.” Steve: “What’s a cap?” (Being facetious)
2:04 – Storms: may get ahead just before they cross interstate. Storms 33 miles to SE and may have warnings soon. “It’s a beast!”
2:05 – At exit 90; Ottawa is 52 miles from here. See Polaris cap cloud.
2:12 – Storms to SE of 64dbz and getting closer to interstate
2:15 – Code County has a severe storm warning. 2-1 Cubs vs. Cincinnati (Cubs favor)
2:22 – Storm to S still has no warnings with 64dbz, good chance we’ll get rolled, but also may end up 20 minutes ahead of it.
2:25 – Rockford Airport: Temp/Dpt 90/72 and mis-read observation: 129 mph with gusts of 18 mph…?
2:31 – Storm moving NNE at 15mph, has 60dbz.
2:37 – Ottawa Storm is 12 miles away S of us. Huge storm heading for Valparaiso in an hour if it lives.
2:39 – We have debris! Outflow, blowing tree-age. Calling for getting rolled.
2:41 – Car 2 loves the free air conditioning. J BP stop in Utica (how ironic). 85 T, no dewpoint since it’s raining.
2:45 – Stopped for gas/bathroom, rollage. J Severe Storm Warning; have to move!
2:55 – We’re going to miss this one…maybe.
2:58 – Rain shaft straight ahead! (Going E)
3:00 – Zach plays Jeff Gordon… Complains about minivans. Suggests SUVs to take place of minivans. Bart defends minivans. He can’t pay the gas bills for an SUV. He’s a teacher.
3:02 – ~3 to 4 miles from storm which has 58/59dbz. It is starting to die. It has no shear, but we can feel outflow.
3:04 – Storm went up while at gas station earlier and now it’s dying out. Just up and down draft really fast. We are core-punching the remains.
3:09 – Another storm coming.
3:13 – Warning is issued for storm to the NW for large hail and straight-line winds. Warning is also out for 4 storm centers near Chicago. We are going to be driving through a lot of heavy storms on our way back; literally a dozen storms S of 80 that are heading straight for 80.
3:16 – Raining in Valparaiso as we get back, but storms are pulsing so much we don’t know if it will be raining exactly when we’re back.
3:22 – Storm 67dbz in Will County: cross interstate. Warning is out for Kankakee County. 62dbz storm near town of Manhattan too; we are going to hit 2 storms on 80. Decide 80 is parking lot so we’ll take 55.
3:31 – We’re going to get wet again… or maybe not for awhile…
3:36 – 3 or 4 major storms on our route, took 55 S.
3:40 – Exit 245 Arsenal Road, cut off ~30 miles of our trip back. Bart thinks there’re enough signs on the roadside. Steve: “They forgot the one for the testicle festival.” Casey: “There’s only enough signs when you can’t see the turns behind them.” Steve: This road is bumpiest in trip.” Bart: “No, Cheyenne Wells was bumpiest.” (where he said "Careful! Careful!”)
3:43 – Pass natural gas storage.
3:44 – heading through another storm; yet another storm ahead is “something else.”
3:47 – 72dbz storm is ½ size of Will County with shear markers above 70.
3:51 – See radar on right, it’s how big ours will be. Backflow on storms to S (ahead of us). Rain unbelievable. Computer warning: “You are now approaching a strong storm.” 3.6 in/hr rainfall.
3:54 – 60,000 ft elevation on storms. We are core punching. We can see darkness on the horizon (storms).
3:58 – Lake County Indiana has a beast heading N: Severe storm watch
3:59 – Rain free base, hail shaft in storm to left of us. Pole down!
4:02 – Storm still sitting ahead of us: “Brutal, just brutal.”
4:06 – Making good time, the worst was past when we got here, but can’t imagine how much water will be on road 10 miles away (ahead). Stuff developing in Kankakee is now heading for Valparaiso. The peak time for the storms is now and for the next 40 to 45 minutes, and then we expect them to die off.
4:12 – Between storm ahead and line behind, we’re fine, not going to get much heavy rain at all (at least while driving).
4:14 – Good road choice: 80 is not going to be moving with these storms.
4:17 – Gary is getting pounded as we speak. Some rain ahead, but we’re going to miss a lot. Some storms that could hold it together and make it to Valparaiso, but mainly suburbs like Gary are getting hit.
4:19 – Dark rain. J We’re going to get hardly any rain.
4:20 – Urban and flood street warning for here and for Dupage and Kane.
4:22 – By time we’re unloaded this will all be done. There are storms behind us to the right that could hit Valpo later if they stay together.
4:23 – Storm from SW: corner of Lake County pounded. Lots of tree debris, and see flooding in fields as well as “leaf-age”.
4:27 – Tree limb in road, moving it.
4:29 – Back on our way. See Tom’s Firewood; he’ll be in business… J
4:32 – Goats and chickens! Chickens loose…
4:34 – Clearing a tree branch again.
4:36 – Back on road.
4:37 – Stuff to S not as impressive. Valpo may not get any rain.
4:40 – Flanking line on storm to NE.
4:42 – Twig under Car 2, remove it and continue.
4:44 – See brown line: stable layer preventing smoke stacks from spreading out properly. Amazing cloudage at 11 o’clock!
4:48 – More storms from SW. Valpo is getting nothing. Some planes get hit (we see them fly in)
4:50 – I-80 and I-90 severely backed up; good we didn’t go that way.
4:57 – Kankakee getting pounded.
5:01 – Learn of reporter crew death in Iraq.
5:03 – Cook, Dupage, Will, Kankakee, and Lake counties all have warnings.
5:04 – NNW Lafayette storm may hit Valpo if it holds together. Kankakee stuff looks to pass W of the suburbs.
5:20 – 57,000 customers without power in Dupage and Will counties.
5:25 – Going to Speedway next to Valpo to gas up and then go to Met building.
5:29 – Stopped for gas – last time!
5:37 – Leave, reach Valpo parking lot.
It is finished!!!
Respectfully submitted,
Katri Whitmire