May 17, 2004 Russell Kansas Supercell with cone-shaped rotating wall cloud
After spending the night in Grand Island, Nebraska, I checked data. My
original plan was to drop south to Hays and possibly further south. Another area of
concern was north central Nebraska. While at the hotel, I ran into Jeff
Piotrosky and we checked additional data. We first targeted an area along a boundary
just south of Concordia.
By 4:15PM, it was obvious our current area was not going to develop
significant storms. A storm was forming to the southwest near Hays, Kansas and others
near Dodge City. We blasted south, then west on I-70. By 6PM, a developing
supercell storm was visible to our west near Russell, Kansas. Although initially
high based, the storm was intensifying and beginning to rotate. Inflow bands
formed and electrical activity increased. We arrived in Russell at 6:12PM at
stopped at a Sonic for a quick meal while watching the storm develop. At 6:24,
Jeff yelled “tornado warning†for just west of Russell and a minute later, the
town’s tornado sirens blasted. We moved to an area of better visibility and
easy escape option. Interestingly, my weather radio was delayed in sounding the
warning when compared to Jeff's XM satellite system. To the west, we watched
a developing wall cloud approach the town. It was rather disorganized as it
passed over the town. Clouds swirled overhead. The wall cloud coalesced into a
rapidly rotating cone-shaped lowering just to the east at 6:43PM.
http://www.harkphoto.com/tempwallcone051704.jpg
http://www.harkphoto.com/tempwalleast051704.jpg
We followed east on a side road. The lowering continued to rotate but just
wouldn’t produce a tornado. It cycled between more and less organization. The
east road became muddy and I turned back and dropped south through Russell
before turning east again on I-70. I soon caught up with the storm. The rotating
wall cloud was slowly moving east, just north of the interstate. It became
more defined but no tornado.
http://www.harkphoto.com/tempintwall051704.jpg
http://www.harkphoto.com/tempintwall2051704.jpg
I followed it for several miles. Thanks to Jason Politte for nowcasting.
Groups of chasers lined an access road parallel to the interstate. Many chasers
were standing along a low hill in the open watching the storm as the area was
hit with CG’s. (Cloud to Ground lightning.) Very dangerous. I followed the
storm to Wilson. It cycled with more wall clouds before dying. The show was over.
I drove back to Russell Kansas and met with Jeff Piotrosky. We had dinner at a
steak restaurant and ran into Charles Edwards and his tour group, George
Kourounis, Mark Robinson, David Sills, Sarah Scriver and other chasers. I am now
checking data (high speed internet, yeah!) at a hotel in Russell.
An absolutely amazing storm. No tornado but a very fun chase.
Bill Hark
http://www.harkphoto.com
.
