- 2005 CONVECTIVE FIELD STUDY A
Valpo Convective Field Study 12A
May 15-24, 2005
Car 1: Cap Rock (Pilot)
Driver: Brian Dillon
Team Leader: Bart Wolf
Navigator: Eddy Hildebrand
Radar operator: Matt Janiga
Car 2: CPA
Driver: Dan Alrick
Team Leader: Tammy McDunn
Videographer: Amanda Anderson
Joel Dreessen
Car 3: Suck Zone
Driver: Chris Siewert
Team Leader: Michael Seger
Trip Logger: Jamie Matusiak
Stephen Healey
Car 4: V•(Gradient symbol) no lovin’
Driver: Angie Fritz
Team Leader: Justin Steinbrinck
Ben Hampton
Monica Ott
Car 5: Mesostalkers
Driver: Joe Coronel
Team Leader: Brandon Arnold
Mike Morales
Jeff Noonan
Car 6: Old Sun Dogs
Driver: Tom Cullen
Mike Hoffman
Mike Suarez
Saturday May 14, 2005-Wiring of cars
3:00pm- Met in weather center to wire cars and take care of loose ends. We plan to drive on Sunday to western Nebraska and decide later how far north or south we need to be to be in good position for Monday. Three day outlook from SPC shows a slight risk in western Nebraska region. We put Rain-X on the cars, attached CB radios, tested them, set up the anemometer, Boltech, and put chase kits in the cars. We will meet at 7am sharp in the weather center on Sunday to finalize our game plan for the day and be on the road by 7:30am.
Day 1-Sunday May 15, 2005
7:19am- Weather briefing led by Bart. We are going west; the end. Trough aloft in the eastern high plains with a ridge moving off. Tuesday night a weak shortwave in central Nebraska. Wednesday morning there could be a negative tilt shortwave. Good shear with instability being the key ingredient. Broad diffluence, cloudiness, and moisture (WAA) also important. Plan is to go west on I-80 to central Nebraska then go where ever we need to on Monday, perhaps southwest Nebraska tonight because of a jet (maybe convection). Tuesday, central plains maybe tornadoes, and something possibly in Iowa and Minnesota. Moisture in north northwest Nebraska and southeast Montana. Maybe some LP’s on Monday, better chance on Tuesday. SPC says southeast Colorado to Rio Grande, Day 2, for south central Nebraska to the panhandle, and Day 3 has central plains with the panhandle to North Dakota. Bart went to go make hotel reservations in Lexington, Nebraska, and then we are off.
7:50 am-”Bart is running, holy crap!” Chris
8:00 am Departure from Valpo Temp: 50°F
8:05 am- first cop
8:17 am -right onto 94 west
8:18 am -no lovin’ car almost went east since they were so far behind
8:22 am- Wanted to stop to watch overshooting top and see what develops (smoke stack).
8:24 am- GPS not working
8:26 am- GPS woke up
8:40 am- cross Illinois border west on 94, temp 52°F
8:45 am- pay toll then west on I-80
9:02 am- “If you really squint you can see the Rockies.” Bart
9:16 am- Mileage game with Bob Barker rules and every car must be at least 100 miles from another car’s guess.
Mileage guesses
Cap Rock: 5727
CPA: 5589
Suck Zone: 5280
no lovin’: 5384
Mesostalkers: 5484
Old Sun Dogs: 4916
10:14 am- rest stop in Princeton, IL
10:25 am- back on the road
10:38 am- Henry County
10:56 am- We agreed to stay on I-80 for 70 miles into Iowa then stop for gas and lunch.
11:07 am- Crossed into Iowa across the Mississippi River on I-80.
11:17 am- “You can shoot video and drop bombs.” Bart
A guy actually took pot shots at a channel 16 news chopper as it went over his land, and put a hole in the chopper’s tail. “He put a hole through us so the FBI put a hole through him.” Mike Hoffman
11:48 am-passed an ice cream truck motorcycle, which really was the world’s smallest camper. “Does he have a drive through window?”
11:50 am-exit 254 West Branch, Iowa. Gas at BP and eat lunch at Quiznos
12:40 pm-back on the road 51°F
12:53 pm-Day 2 outlook: like this morning, little more CAPE for west Kansas (1000+ J/kg), 120-180° shear, if we get any updrafts to sustain the shear rotating storms are possible in Kansas to the panhandle of Texas. ETA for day 3 has a good amount of shear and instability for North Central to Central Nebraska. Thursday, day 4, has good instability in Oklahoma and northwestern Missouri. So possibly three days of convection.
1:49 pm-crazy observations about corn via Bart
1:59 pm- temp 59°F.
2:08 pm-half way and same temp as before.
2:19 pm-finally hit 60°F
2:30 pm-Went through Des Moines
2:43 pm-elevation of 1000ft
2:51 pm- 1100 ft
2:57 pm- 1200 ft
3:03 pm- 1300 ft
3:08 pm- 1400 ft in Adair, Iowa (smiley face water tower)
4:00 pm- temp 63°F
4:03 pm-20 questions game
4:11 pm- We entered Nebraska.
4:30 pm- 65°F outside
4: 37 pm-We took a break from 20 questions until we get gas with the scores being listed below, and the speed limit is 75 mi/h.
Cap Rock: 10
CPA: 10
Suck Zone: 10
no lovin’: 10
Mesostalkers: 10
Old Sun Dogs: 9
4:43 pm-temp 65°F
4:50 pm-67°F with a south wind
5:01 pm- “Can’t wait for Cruella DeVille to chase that man in the Dalmatian car.” Brandon
5:09 pm- elevation of 1500 ft
5:13 pm- T/Td 67°F/29°F
5:14 pm- redo T/Td 67°F/32°F
5:15 pm- stopped for gas at a shell off of exit 279
5:33 pm-got back on I-80
6:04 pm- Supercell in northeast Colorado, Yuma, 64 dBz with a severe thunderstorm warning. In half an hour we might see the anvil and it is 240 miles southwest of us. 69 mi/h shear moving northeast at 15 knots.
6:14 pm-elevation just under 1800 ft
6:19 pm- Lamar, Nebraska has a new cell forming with 40 dBz.
6:25 pm- T/Td 67°F/32°F
6:28 pm- 225 mi away with 64 dBz, most likely hail, 80 mi/h shear
6:34 pm- tornado warning for storm south of Colorado storm with 103 mi/hr shear.
6:38 pm- isolated storms possible for tomorrow in Colorado where Rockies act like a dry line
6:42 pm- 63 dBz, 80 mi/hr shear , and 200 mi from here. Northwest of North Platt, 170 mi from us and 50 dBz.
6:43 pm-88 bug count on Angie’s car
6:51 pm-192 mi to Colorado storm
6:53 pm- 50 dBz storm in Chase County, Nebraska south of Brandon 160 miles west of us.
7:07 pm- elevation of 2224 ft
7:09 pm-130 miles from Chase, Nebraska storm and 170 miles from Colorado storm and it is a beast.
7:18 pm- Chase, Nebraska storm deteriorating rapidly
7:21 pm- “Don’t play with the townies, you might catch something.” Chris
7:22 pm- T/Td 68°F/40°F
7:25 pm- exit right, North, for hotel
7:27 pm- at hotel, signing off for day with a meeting at 8am tomorrow morning.
Mileage: 736.3
Trip total: 736.3 miles
Day 2
8:00 am-Briefing led by Eddy, Brian, and Matt. Slight risk in northeast South Dakota with 2% hail, 15% in Lexington and north of Lexington, and 5% for wind. Conditions in area are cold (low to mid 50’s), some showers, winds vary in direction, and possible dry line on Colorado/Kansas border but winds are weak so it may not be. We need to get where the boundaries intersect and where there is low level rotation so north Nebraska possibly southern South Dakota. Forecasts have possible quarter inch hail today and tennis ball size hail tomorrow. Today multicells are probable but super cells not likely; however, tomorrow has a good chance for strong severe weather. The plan is to get to North Platte, go north from there, and make hotel reservations in Valentine, Nebraska.
9:09 am-55°F when we left the hotel and hit the road.
9:11 am-We got on I-80 heading west
9:25 am- T/Td 60°F/48.5°F
9:57 am- pineapple
9:58 am- We got on 83 north via exit 177
10:06 am- We got into North Platte and filled up on gas at a Sinclair for $1.99 a gallon.
10:28 am- We left the gas station and got on 83 heading north
10:30 am- T/Td 65°F/53.4°F
10:34 am- elevation of 3000 ft
10:52 am- pineapple
10:56 am- T/Td 67°F/48°F
11:23 am- half way to Valentine
11:30 am- T/Td 68°F/51°F
11:45 am-elevation of 3000 ft. Update from base support, upper super cell index uses the second color (better chance for super cells) in southern Cherry County, where we are going. Day 2 shows southerly flow into the Plains, Thursday we might go into Iowa, and then back in Nebraska on Friday.
12:25 pm- We stopped for lunch at a Pizza Hut in Valentine
1:13 pm- We left Pizza Hut and drove the two blocks to our hotel
2:10 pm- T/Td 78°F/48°F
2:30 pm- We are going to stay put because if anything decides to fire it should be right around us.
2:35 pm- Looked at RUC, 18z run, 21z run shows not much CAPE and 00z shows CAPE gone. Something might fire along the dry line then move east, hit CAPE, and fire up according to Bart. Nothing is showing any precip. Tomorrow is looking good with helicity and CAPE up to 4000 J/kg. The weird pattern we are currently in is screwing up the models, and there is a boundary to the west of us.
3:00 pm- We had a briefing led by the girls in the girls’ room.
3:52 pm- A few students were interviewed by channel 16 and then the drivers went with Bart to fill up just in case we need to get going quickly later. Until then we plan to sit around and keep an eye on satellite images.
6:31 pm- briefing led by Bart. There are 2 cells, one in the southwest part of Cherry County and the other heading north towards Winner. Neither storm is overly impressive (44 dBz) and it’s not clear whether or not they are intensifying. We will go hunt down the northerly storm because if it dies then we can double back and catch the southern storm. Both storms are moving slowly and into better thermodynamic environments.. We are going to take 12 east to find the storm.
6:33 pm- We get on state road 12 by taking a right.
6:36 pm- T/Td 85°F/44°F
6:48 pm- turned left, north, onto a dirt road where we plan to stop and watch the storm
6:49 pm- T/Td 81°F/48°F
6:51 pm- We stopped to watch the storm
7:44 pm- We left our location and did not see much since the storm died shortly after we stopped to watch it.
7:47 pm- The storm intensified to 50 dBz on radar so we are going to chase it again east on 12
7:55 pm- The storm died and went back down to 30 dBz in 6 minutes. We have decided to go home since there are no storms worth chasing anywhere.
7:58 pm- T/Td 75°F/49°F
8:20 pm-We are back at our hotel on Bessie St.
8:29 pm- We separate for dinner and decide to call it a day. The girls will lead discussion tomorrow morning at 8 am in their room.
Mileage:
Trip total: 983
Day 3
8:00 am- Discussion led by Angie, Amanda, Monica, Tammy, and Jamie. “We got us a hangin’ tree for your type.” Bart
Large mass of clouds, shortwave, and a dry line all factors. Good turning to the west, less to the east and good lower level lapses rates. Better moisture to the north. Shallow shear good for tornadoes and super cells and a good dry microburst sounding, maybe some hail. Strong winds good and possibility of multicells. We will meet later at 10 am.
9:31 am- Discussion led by Angie. The idea is to head south, although there is more moisture to the north but clouds a problem. Clouds burn off faster in the south and a possible second low forming in the south. Go south to North Platte and head west. Heading south better because we’ll be in Kansas tomorrow most likely. So we are going south to watch storms and leaving asap.
9:58 am- “Searching satellites”- GPS
10:01 am- 73°F and we left the hotel.
10:17 am- 1000+ miles on the trip.
10:20 am- Storm 80 miles west of us and moving due north at 15 mi/hr. 55dBz and lots of lightning with a bow echo on radar.
10:31 am- T/Td 71°F/53°F
10:47 am- T/Td 71°F/54°F
11:02 am-We stopped for gas at a BP in Thedford, Nebraska got lunch at this location.
12:15 pm- T/Td 73°F/53°F
1:28 pm- We left the BP to go chasing
1:29 pm- T/Td 75°F/55°F
1:30 pm- We turned onto 83 south.
1:34 pm- There is weak to moderate shear in Oklahoma through parts of Kansas, and there are CAPE values over 2500 J/kg and lots of large hail.
1:44 pm-”I’m digging all the random cows. I’m such a city kid.” Jamie
1:45 pm- T/Td 78°F/56°F
1:51 pm- Severe thunderstorm over where we are, and we are in the middle of it.
2:03 pm- We stopped for gas at a BP in Stapleton, Nebraska and stayed in its parking lot to find a system to chase.
2:10 pm- T/Td 82°F/55°F winds sustained at 20 mph and gusts up to 28 mph.
3:40 pm- 50 dBz storm with a lot of lightning, 1.5 inch hail aloft, and we are at the BP still watching it.
3:42 pm- A second cell started to fire
3:45 pm- Severe thunderstorm warning in western Lincoln County.
3:47 pm- Tropical fruit advisory
3:49 pm- We are finally chasing a cell that has 67 dBz on the radar and possible radar. We are going south on 83.
3:57 pm- Possible lowering of the storm
4:08 pm- Golf ball size hail reported
4:09 pm- another warning is issued for a different storm
4:15 pm-Right onto Sandhill Road and the storm is west southwest of us.
4:16 pm- stopped on road to watch the storm
4:17 pm- tornado warning issued for the cell
4:26 pm- we left the position because we were about to get rolled
4:31 pm- North on 83 and the plan is to go east on the 92 interchange.
4:35 pm- turned right onto Mill Park Drive
4:36 pm- We stopped to watch the storm and saw some good microbursts.
4:42 pm- We are leaving the spot and getting north on 83.
4:43 pm- Golf ball size hail reported again.
5:02 pm- turned right to go east on 92.
5:05 pm- Stopped on a country road we turned right on to watch some more of the storm.
5:14 pm- Left our location.
5:15 pm- Back on 92 east.
5:19 pm- Severe thunderstorm warning for where we are.
5:30 pm- 40 South, turned right.
5:39 pm- “Hey car 5 we are going to give you hail practice by throwing raisins at your car because if you can dodge a raisin you can dodge a hail stone: Justin
“Oh the humanity” Brandon
5:42 pm- A severe thunderstorm watch was put into effect for where we are to the east until midnight.
5:44 pm- Squall line of 70 dBz and a T/Td of 79°F/55°F
5:53 pm- Going south to catch up with the storms.
6:13 pm- T/Td 81°F/54°F
6:17 pm- pineapple
6:31 pm- Turn left onto 183
6:36 pm- Car 2 made an emergency pit stop and separated from the pack.
6:53 pm- left on 183
6:54 pm- right on 183
6:55 pm- left on 183
7:04 pm- turned left onto a country road again to get a better perspective of the storm.
7:10 pm- Turn south on 183 so if we plan to get rolled by a storm we need to go south (the storms are splitting right on our location).
7:13 pm- “The road we peed on is an option but it might be a little sketchy.” Dan
“We were claiming the land.” Tammy
7:19 pm- Up on a hill watching
7:30 pm Leaving spot to go further south and get another building storm
7:33 pm- right onto 183
7:34 pm- left onto 2 east
7:41 pm- 64-68 dBz is the storm we are going after
7:44 pm- T/Td 79°F/55°F and 67 dBz for the storm and is turning hard right, right for us.
7:48 pm- 3 in hail a loft directly at us, shear markers for potential rotation
7:53 pm- right turn onto 10 going south
7:58 pm- Took a right onto 370th road then down the other direction with the storm 12 miles away from us.
8:02 pm- stopped on a hill to get rolled. Changed mind and gong south towards the hotel to find last storm in the line (68 dBz).
8:04 pm- back on 2 south
8:14 pm- pineapple
8:22 pm- turned right onto a road (west)
8:23 pm- stopped to watch the storm and get rolled by it
8:59 pm- let our location and are heading for the hotel with a meeting at 8 in room 320. Wind gusts got up to 47 mph while we were being rolled. The storm had a beautiful sunset and colors associated with it.
9:05 pm- at hotel in Kearney and going to bed.
Mileage:
Trip total: 1392.5 miles
Day 4
8:00 am- Discussion led by Ben, Justin, Joel, and Dan. T/td’s in the 60’s °F/ 57-58°F and dry to the west. A boundary discontinuity above the surface called an unjular bore. Moisture at the surface and little shear in the winds that are backing with height. Moisture will be an issue today as well as the cap with 700 mb temps right around the threshold of 12°C. The plan is to go to southern Kansas and then possibly go north back to the Dakotas on Thursday.
9:00 am- departure from hotel
9:03 am- I 80 heading east to 81
9:06 am- T/Td 64°F/48°F
9:20 am- T/Td 67°F/48°F
9:27 am- pineapple
9:28 am- We see the boundary to the southeast from the road and the T/Tds there are 70’s/60’s
9:30 am- T/Td 68°F/ 46°F
9:33 am- exit 312 south
9:34 am- Stopped at a BP
9:51 am- took a left from the gas station to go east on I 80
10:10 am- 65-66 Td in Oklahoma 3-5°F higher than we had yesterday at this time
10:17 am- pineapple
10:19 am- T/Td 71°F/51°F
10:23 am- T/Td 72°F/50°F
10:24 am- took exit 353 to get on 81 south
10:33 am- T/Td 73°F/50°F
10:45 am- T/Td 73°F/51°F
10:50 am- T/Td 76°F/53°F
10:56 am- T/Td 78°F/54 to 62°F
11:12 am- T/Td 77°F/59°F
11:14 am-crossed into Kansas
11:16 am- T/Td 75°F/59°F
11:39 am- T/Td 78°F/58°F
12:02 pm- T/Td 81°F/58°F
12:17 pm- T/Td 82°F/68°F
12:20 pm- pineapple
12:29 pm- exit 90 and stopping in Salina for lunch
12:49 pm- leaving McDonald’s
12:50 pm- getting on 81 south and going to Wichita tonight, Oklahoma tomorrow maybe, and nothing on Friday.
1:05 pm- T/Td 82°F/59°F and Salina’s winds have shifted.
1:31 pm- T/Td 80°F/63°F
1:43 pm- Took exit 25 onto 196 east
1:56 pm- T/Td 82°F/64°F
2:34 pm- T/Td 78°F/63°F
2:41 pm- Severe thunderstorm watch for counties right around us Butler, Greenwood, Cowley, and Elk.
3:04 pm- We are stopping at a gas station to watch and wait.
“Always when a news team is with us, the atmosphere says cap, ridge, go to hell.” Bart
6:39 pm- We left the gas station.
6:51 pm- T/Td 80°F/63°F
7:10 pm- turned left to go north on 99
7:12 pm- 55 dBz on the 2 cells
7:27 pm- cell 42 miles west northwest of us, 55dBz developing quickly so we are going to Emporia and then go west from there.
7:29 pm- Storm popped in Wichita and there is one hour of daylight left.
7:31 pm- Lightning with the storm we are chasing
7:32 pm- 59 dBz
7:36 pm- 60 dBz no storm 25 miles anywhere around us.
7:39 pm- 1.5 inch hail aloft
7:45 pm- 55 dBz but the storm is growing
7:48 pm- turn onto 143rd west
7:49 pm- 32 miles from the storm
7:51 pm- 30 miles from the storm
7:58 pm- 17 miles to the edge of the rain and 21 miles to the core
8:09 pm- Storm died and new cells west of Wichita
8:11 pm- We gave up on the cell, go to the hotel, and hope to see something on the way.
8:15 pm- right onto Walnut
8:16 pm- Meet at 8:30 tomorrow morning.
8:17 pm- pineapple
8:29 pm- rain
9:02 pm- cc lightning
9:08 pm- That’s what we call bumbin’ music (to an Aerosmith song)” Bart
9:34 pm- I 135 south and take exit 1A for the hotel
9:44 pm- pineapple
9:47 pm- at hotel
Mileage:
Total trip Mileage: 1866
Day 5
8:30 am- Discussion led by Brandon, Joe, Jeff, and Mike M. SPC day 1 slight risk in eastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas all the way to Valpo. Tornadoes were in Iowa yesterday. Day 2 up north with a slight risk Gulf Coast. Favorable conditions but models are being wacky so we are not sure what to think about tomorrow, although it will be a good day. Day 3 blows up over Iowa and moisture gets into the Dakotas. After much deliberation we are going north to catch all the action tomorrow in the Dakotas and bagging the action in Missouri. “The low is screwing with the jet.” Brandon
11:26 am- left out of the hotel and got on I 135 north T/Td 83°F/66°F.
12:02 pm- Base support told us the new day one shows exactly what were thinking and nothing is going to happen in Missouri.
12:47 pm- Stop for lunch in Salina
1:34 pm- left gas station and got on 183 north T/Td 92°F/52°F
1:50 pm- met up with Mississippi State Storm Chase team
1:51 pm- 135 turned into 81
2:11 pm- pineapple
2:50 pm- We entered Nebraska T/Td 89°F/50°F
3:02 pm- 2000 miles on the trip and we are in Concordia
3:14 pm- T/Td 90°F/42°F
4:11 pm- turned onto 92 west
4:15 pm- got on 39 north
4:30 pm- turned left onto 370 Ave.
4:36 pm- on Gleason St.
4:39 pm- left onto Columbus Ave.
4:40 pm- We saw a zebra in someone’s back yard
4:46 pm- right onto 63A (west)
4:49 pm- right onto 39 (north)
5:13 pm- onto 14 north
5:16 pm- T/Td 86°F/44°F
5:43 pm- turned left onto 275 west
6:21 pm- pineapple
6:38 pm- Went for gas in O’Neill
6:51 pm- left gas station
6:53 pm- Stopped for dinner at Westside restaurant
8:50 pm- left dinner
8:52 pm- Turned onto 281 north
9:18 pm- elevation 1619 ft (top of a hill)
9:24 pm- latitude game
9:27 pm- longitude game
9:29 pm- elevation game
9:31 pm- Entered South Dakota
9:32 pm- turned left onto 18 west
9:37 pm- where the crow flies game
10:07 pm- in Burke
10:08 pm- cars 1 and 3 hit a jack rabbit
10:10 pm- Turned onto 47 west
10:18 pm- took a right onto 47 north
11:03 pm- crossing Missouri River
11:22 pm- at hotel
Mileage: 532
Trip Total Mileage: 2398
Day 6
8:33 am- Discussion led by Mike and Matt. We are going west where there is at least 90° shear and CAPE. Lack of moisture could be an issue today. We are thinking about sitting in northwest South Dakota and southwest North Dakota, but the main plan is to go west and rely on base support for a more exact location. Another idea is to go to eastern Montana to catch initiation and follow the cells west, in which they will eventually turn into a bow echo. Tomorrow looks like we will be chasing in Iowa or Nebraska.
9:45 am- left hotel and got onto I-90 west T/Td 74°F/54°F
10:23 am- elevation game, and answer is 1909 ft
10:39 am- The Price is Right is on the radio
11:18 am- Dakota exit 150 for gas at BP
11:35 am- left the gas station
11:36 am- turned left onto I-90 west
12:25 pm- T/Td 74°F/58°F
12:41 pm- T/Td 73°F/57°F
1:06 pm- 3528 ft elevation
1:08 pm- T/Td 78°F/53°F
1:20 pm- Took a right on exit 23 to get onto 34 west
1:37 pm- Turned right onto 212 north
1:43 pm- Stopping for lunch in Belle Fourche. After lunch we found a tree that was showing F0 damage
2:30 pm- North on 85
2:45 pm- T/Td 82°F/56°F
2:59 pm- T/Td 85°F/56°F
3:39 pm- Stopping for gas at an Amoco
4:12 pm- moving from gas station to a better location and we went north on 85
4:18 pm- We turned around
4:24 pm- right onto 20 west
4:38 pm- we stopped on a hill to observe
5:43 pm- left the hill to go north
5:46 pm- Took a left to go east to Buffalo
5:48 pm- storm has 55 dBz
5:49 pm- T/Td 84°F/49°F
5:50 pm- took a left to get onto 85 north
6:00 pm- 55-60 dBz
6:05 pm- T/Td 79°F/55°F
6:12 pm- Stopped to watch in Ludlow
6:47 pm- we left our location to go south
6:49 pm- 92 mph gate to gate shear
6:54 pm- we are 12 miles from the cell
6:58 pm- T/Td 77°F/61°F
6:59 pm- baseball sized hail in the storm
7:01 pm- Turned left and stopped to watch the storm which is not 15 miles from us.
7:02 pm- Stopped on a hill “The reason for all of the pollution is the inflow is coming from Gary.”
7:32 pm- left location to get further east while storm is redeveloping
7:38 pm- T/Td 79°F/58°F
7:52 pm- The storm is 59 dBz on radar
8:38 pm- T/Td 75°F/60°F There is a lot of wind and we are going to head north towards the hotel. We also plan to intercept the hail shaft, but prior to punching it the storm died.
9:05 pm- 22 east and crossed into North Dakota
9:09 pm- left onto 22 North
9:28 pm- no morning meeting tomorrow and we are giving up on the present storm. CAPE and moisture look good for tomorrow but the cap is what hinders us. Omaha is the goal destination.
10:09 pm- Went to a Holiday for gas
10:31 pm- left the gas station
10:32 pm- Got onto 94 east
11:54 pm- Took exit 159
11:56 pm- Arrived at the Comfort Inn
Mileage: 623.9
Total Trip Mileage: 3021.9
Day 7
7:10 am- T/Td 63°F/58°F left hotel with no discussion because we are going to Iowa, end of story
7:13 am- left onto I-94 east
8:00 am- T/Td 65°F/57°F
8:15 am- car 4’s antenna fell off
9:42 am- exit 29 South and a pineapple
9:43 am- exit 62 for gas
9:44 am- Conoco for gas
10:04 am- left gas station to get to Sioux Falls
10:05 am- got on I-29 south
10:08 am- T/Td 70°F/58°F
10:53 am- in South Dakota
11:14 am- T/Td 75°F/56°F
12:25 pm- exit 132 and separate for lunch
12:26 pm- gas at BP
1:01 pm- left location after lunch
1:02 pm- got on I-29 south and we left on time for once after lunch and gassing up J
1:03 pm- T/Td 75°F/58°F
1:37 pm- T/Td 74°F/56°F
1:43 pm- pineapple
1:58 pm- lazy boy on the side of the road, furniture count: 2
2:14 pm- pulled into weigh station to meet up with 16 crew
2:23 pm- back on the road with 16
2:53 pm- entering Iowa
3:22 pm- T/Td 84°F/57°F
3:28 pm- exit 112
3:29 pm- pineapple
3:30 pm- stopped at a Conoco for gas
3:52 pm- leaving gas station
3:55 pm- got on 175 west
4:02 pm- entering Nebraska
4:04 pm- turned left onto 75 south, T/Td 84°F/60°F
4:05 pm- turned right onto 51 west
4:16 pm- turned left onto 77 south
4:18 pm- left onto V road and we are going to sit on a hill
4:40 pm- left our location to go south wear the cap is weakening
4:41 pm- left onto Highway 77 south
4:48 pm- 35 dBz on a cell moving east
5:07 pm- tornado watch until 10 pm south of the interstate with 3 inch sized hail, or baseballs aloft
5:13 pm- took a left to get on 91 east
5:15 pm- stopped at a gas station in Nickerson, Nebraska before heading on
6:44 pm- left gas station to go more east, T/Td 86°F/66°F
7:08 pm- we are entering Iowa
7:10 pm- took a right onto Casey Trail and stopped to observe
8:50 pm- left location
8:51 pm- took a right onto Highway 30 east
8:57 pm- took a right into a BP for a bathroom break
9:08 pm- left gas station
9:09 pm- took a right onto 29 south and car 4 killed a bird, animal kill count: 5
9:43 pm- total time since we left valpo game
9:48 pm- average speed of the trip game
11:05 pm- we entered Missouri
11:22 pm- exit 146A onto 36 east
11:52 pm- exit 69 north and at hotel, meeting at 9am
Mileage: 824.1
Total trip mileage: 3846
Day 8
9:02 am- discussion led by Matt and Eddy. Good shear in Oklahoma, CAPE and high dew points also a plus, but it looks like a set up for HPs and not tornadic supercells. There is also a lot of CIN meaning a strong cap.
9:34 am- “The atmosphere has 3 hours to break through 500 grams of CIN.” Bart
“My doctor told me to limit my CIN intake to 500 grams.” Brandon
It is looking as if we are going to Wichita for tonight and probably chasing in South Kansas to North Oklahoma. Tomorrow we might chase in the Colorado area and we will be leaving by 10:30 today.
10:21 am- left hotel and went to Walmart to get an aerobed.
10:37 am-left Walmart and got on 36 east
10:39 am- got gas at a Diamond Shamrock
10:55 am- we left the gas station
10:56 am- Took a right and are now going east on Hwy 36
10:59 am- took a right onto south 35
10:58 am- T/Td 77°F/50°F
11:33 am- we took a right onto exit 12A to go south on 435
11:38 am- T/Td 82°F/60°F
11:43 am- took a right onto exit 63A to get on I-70 west
11:50 am- we entered Kansas
11:51 am- took a right to get on 35 going south
12:25 pm- T/Td 80°F/63°F
12:36 pm- made a left to get on exit 183 to go south on 59
12:46 pm-T/Td 81°F/68°F
1:01 pm- got on 169 going south and saw a pineapple
1:09 pm- T/Td 83°F/67°F
1:15 pm- 4000 miles in Colony, Kansas
1:50 pm- T/Td 82°F/71°F and 83°F/68°F
2:08 pm- severe thunderstorm warning in northwest Arkansas
2:11 pm- took a right onto 169 going west
2:21 pm- Got lunch in Independence
2:43 pm- pineapple
2:56 pm- left lunch
2:57 pm- left onto US 75-160 going west
2:58 pm- T/Td 87°F/72°F
3:01 pm- left onto US 75 going south
3:16 pm- right onto 166 going west
3:28 pm- T/Td 86°F/74°F
3:44 pm- left onto a country road
3:49 pm- took a right onto 166 west
3:57 pm- left onto K-15 going south
4:00 pm- T/Td 83°F/75°F
4:01 pm- took a right to go west on 282nd
4:03 pm- sat in a church parking lot
4:07 pm- left the church parking lot
4:10 pm- took a right to go north on K-15
4:14 pm- 2 cells on radar with 10 dBz
4:15 pm- go south on 18
4:16 pm- entered Oklahoma
4:21 pm- cells gone
4:24 pm- T/Td 88°F/78°F and 84°F/74°F and took a left onto CR 460
4:27 pm- stop at a gas station
5:31 pm- left location, we were directly under the forming storm
5:32 pm- took a right to go south on 18
5:33 pm- T/Td 86°F/75°F and 87°F/44°F
5:36 pm- 30+ dBz
5:41 pm- cell splits
5:49 pm- going west on US 60
5:51 pm- T/Td 90°F/76°F
6:08 pm- stop for gas at Phillips 66
6:31 pm- left gas station and continued west on US 60
6:33 pm- took a right onto Hunt Road
6:35 pm- back onto US 60 going west
6:47 pm- took a right onto T Street and stopped
8:04 pm- going to Wichita
8:06 pm- took a right onto US 60 going west
8:11 pm- T/Td 84°F/75°F
8:33 pm- entered Kansas
9:05 pm- got on I-135 via a right onto exit 42
9:09 pm- took a right onto exit 1A
9:11 pm- at hotel
Mileage: 431
Total trip mileage:4277
Day 9
8:00 am- Discussion led by the girls. There is a stationary front in mid Colorado so we expect to be in northeast Colorado around Yuma.
8:28 am- left the hotel and took a left onto 47th St. with a temperature of 72°F.
8:29 am- got on I-135 north towards Salina
8:41 am- pineapple
9:51 am- took exit 95 B
9:52 am- got onto I-70 going west
9:55 am- pineapple
11:07 am- took exit 159
11:09 am- stopped at a Diamond Shamrock in Hays for gas
11:21 am- left gas station
11:22am- right onto 70 west
12:31 pm- pineapple
12:46 pm- took exit 53 to go get lunch in Colby
1:15 pm- met at hotel
1:17 pm- right onto I-70 west
1:22 pm- T/Td 84°F/60°F
1:27 pm- 3319 ft
1:48 pm- 3700 ft
1:52 pm- 2 storms on radar
1:56 pm- 3800 ft
1:58 pm- 3900 ft
2:00 pm- T/Td 84°F/65°F
2:01 pm- entering Colorado
2:10 pm- 4100 ft
2:14 pm- 4200 ft
2:15 pm- T/Td 86°F/61°F
2:22 pm- 4300 ft
2:29 pm- 4400 ft and we are 90 miles from the 55 dBz storm
2:30 pm- 4500 ft
2:33pm- 4600 ft and T/Td 88°F/56°F
2:36 pm- took exit 405 in Siebert to sit and watch the sky at a Conoco station
3:07 pm- severe thunderstorm warning for our area and a storm of 50 dBz
4:36 pm- left location
4:37 pm- took a right onto 70 east
4:38 pm- T/Td 78°F/59°F
4:48 pm- took a right onto exit 419 in Stratton
4:49 pm- sit at a Cenex gas station
4:54 pm- checked radar and left location
4:55 pm- went east on 70
4:57 pm- drove through downdraft, microburst, and saw a nice dust devil.
5:09 pm- took exit 437
5:10 pm- left onto 385 going north
5:11 pm- took a right onto 385 north and there is a storm moving 20 knots
5:18 pm- stopped after taking a right onto a country road
5:19 pm- right onto 385 going north
5:22 pm- tornado warning issued
5:35 pm- severe thunderstorm warning for Chyenne County
5:48 pm- tornado warning for Yuma County, which we are in right now
5:49 pm- tornado warning on this storm we are following
5:52 pm- entering Kansas
5:53 pm- took a left onto road 2 and stopped
6:30 pm- got onto Highway 36 east
6:37 pm- took a left onto road 10
6:44 pm- left location and took a right onto Highway 36 and a severe thunderstorm warning on a new cell.
6:52 pm- entering Colorado
7:00 pm- T/Td 70°F/62°F
7:01 pm- got onto 385 south
7:10 pm- 65 dBz. 2 shear markers, and the storm is 30 miles away from us.
7:15 pm- T/Td 70°F/64°F and we are 20 miles from the best shear marker
7:28 pm- right onto 59 going north, 66 dBz, shear marker, and 6 inch hail aloft
7:40 pm- finished core punching and turned onto road 17
7:41 pm- south on 59
7:49 pm- severe thunderstorm warning on the cell to our west
7:52 pm- right onto 36 west
7:58 pm- 69 shear marker and pea size hail
8:05 pm- stop at Sinclair
8:17 pm- leave location and get back onto 36 east
8:52 pm- got onto 385 going south
9:01 pm- stop at a Conoco for dinner and gas
9:34 pm- going back south on 385
9:37 pm- right on Cowell Ave
9:39 pm- pineapple and a right onto 11th Street
9:41 pm- right onto 385 south
9:45 pm- stop for gas
9:57 pm- left gas station
9:58 pm- took a left onto I-70
10:10 pm- met at a weigh station to switch a couple of drivers
10:12 pm- entered Kansas
10:13 pm- pineapple
10:27 pm- took exit 17
10:28 pm- got on highway 247 going north
10:29 pm- ate at a Wendy’s
11:05 pm- left Wendy’s
11:07 pm- took a right onto I-70 East
11:37 pm- took a right onto exit 53 into Colby
11:39 pm- at hotel
Mileage: 702
Total trip mileage: 4979
Day 10
10:00 am- slight risk in South Dakota west to border of Nebraska and South Dakota to eastern third of Great Plains. Upslope might be better due to deep layer moisture and shear. The situation is similar to yesterday or better, but we cannot go south of I-70 to make it back to our hotel in time. We need to leave Colorado by 7 pm to make it to the hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska and leave by 7 am tomorrow. We will leave around 11:30 am today.
11:58 am- lunch
12:24 pm- met at Arby’s to leave
12:25 pm- going west on I-70
12:29 pm- pineapple
12:45 pm- T/Td 82°F/51°F
12:43 pm- 5000 miles on the chase
12:47 pm- 30 dBz storm
12:53 pm- pineapple
12:56 pm- we took exit 17
12:57 pm- took a right onto 27 going north
1:17 pm- Dan hit a bird
1:25 pm- going west on 27
1:26 pm- T/Td 86°F/53°F and 87°F/57°F
1:31 pm- took a right onto 27 going north
1:51 pm- got into Nebraska
1:52 pm- going west on 34
1:54 pm- T/Td 83°F/53°F and 84°F/56°F
1:59 pm- entering Colorado
2:09 pm- stopped to get gas at a Citgo
2:33 pm- tornado watch until 9:00 pm central time
2:36 pm- left gas station on got onto US 34
3:07 pm- pineapple
3:32 pm- turned onto road JJ
3:39 pm- took a left to go west on 45th street
3:43 pm- stopped for a team leader update
3:55 pm- tornado warning for Washington County
3:57 pm- left location and went east on 45
4:01 pm- tornado warning in Logan was cancelled
4:12 pm- we left our location
4:14 pm- took a left to go east on Road 44
4:17 pm- stopped
4:20 pm- turned and went south and stopped.
4:41 pm- about to be rolled by the storm so we left
4:42 pm- took a left onto road 43
4:51 pm- sirens in Otis
5:01 pm- there was a hook echo but the tornado is rain wrapped
5:03 pm- no more tornado warnings, but still shear markers and a warning in Washington County
5:06 pm- hide in Yuma and stop at a drive in and got dinner at Woody’s
6:20 pm- left dinner
6:21 pm- left on 8th Ave
6:22 pm- left on State Highway 59
6:59 pm- “You know it’s a small town when it’s only 1.5 grain elevators wide.” Bart
7:01 pm- 5215 miles in Haxtun and it’s the longest chase ever.
7:23 pm- took a right to go east on I-76
7:38 pm- entering Nebraska
7:40 pm- got onto I-80 going east
9:07 pm- get gas at a Sinclair off of exit 211
9:20 pm- got back onto I-80 going east
11:49 pm- took exit 399 onto northwest 12th Street
11:50 pm- at hotel
Mileage: 584
Total trip mileage: 5563
Day 11
7:43 am- left hotel
7:44 am- left onto 12 St.
7:45 am- left onto I-80 east
8:34 am- we are in Iowa
9:43 am- took exit 76
9:44 am- gas at Casey’s General Store
9:58 am- left gas station
10:00 am- took a left onto I-80 east and we are at 5700 miles for the trip
10:06 am- pineapple
10:27 am- T/Td 63°F/51°F
10:35 am- pineapple
11:52 am- rest stop and the cities of the year nominations are Yuma, Colorado and Wichita, Kansas
1:26 pm- pineapple
1:27 pm- 5932 miles at Mississippi River
1:28 pm- entering Illinois
1:37 pm- took a right to remain on I-80 east
2:17 pm- exit 56
2:21 pm- got gas at a BP
2:27 pm- went for lunch and are supposed to meet at 2:45
2:50 pm- left from lunch
2:52 pm- back on I-80 east
3:00 pm- 6000 miles for the trip
3:02 pm- longest chase, beat old record of 6002 miles
4:40 pm- in Indiana, yeah Indiana
5:16 pm- pineapple
5:23 pm- meet at Family Express in Valpo
5:41 pm- at Valpo and the end of the trip, so trip A for 2005 signs off.
Mileage: 570.4
Total trip mileage: 6133.4