R R Smith
EF0
In light of the main concern of tomorrow's setup in the southern and central Plains - I'm somewhat hesitant to share yesterday's chase in California. SPC issued a slight risk with a 5% tornado risk box for much of the Sacramento and northern San Joaquin Valley. This is rather unusual but it does suggest that SPC is beginning to recognize that under the right conditions, 500 CAPE (or less) is more than adequate for tornadoes here. Thank you Dr. John Monteverdi!
It was a decent setup for the Sacramento Valley – even better in and around Sacramento and points south. Bulk shear values near 40 knots, steep midlevel lapse rates, orographically backed winds along the east side of the valley especially near Red Bluff and Chico (Chico was SE at 20-25 knots most of the afternoon). And last but not least, surface based CAPE values approaching 500 j/kg. Moisture was meager however with dews in the mid 40’s.
I had no interest in an urban chase around the greater Sacramento area so I targeted the northern Sacramento Valley. I left my office in Montague around noon and headed south down Interstate 5 through heavy snow around Mt.Shasta before settling in just off I-5 near Corning. When I arrived there was some decent sun which quickly vanished under the cover of low clouds. One decent cell did go up which I followed for awhile until it went into the land of few roads in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
It had a healthy updraft base (by California standards).
It appeared to be supercellular for a short time, producing frequent CG's, and lowering which looked wall cloud-ish to me.
Before I could get a closer look, it became wrapped in rain. As that storm drifted east, my GR showed a quarter sized hail.
There were several severe warned storms around Sacramento and Stockton with one tornado confirmed in the Stockton. I made it back home in time to watch the Sharks edge the Blues in the second overtime period. I'm looking forward to my stint as a driver for Martin Lisius, Bill Reid and Tempest Tours in mid May. I cannot wait to get back into the Plains!
It was a decent setup for the Sacramento Valley – even better in and around Sacramento and points south. Bulk shear values near 40 knots, steep midlevel lapse rates, orographically backed winds along the east side of the valley especially near Red Bluff and Chico (Chico was SE at 20-25 knots most of the afternoon). And last but not least, surface based CAPE values approaching 500 j/kg. Moisture was meager however with dews in the mid 40’s.
I had no interest in an urban chase around the greater Sacramento area so I targeted the northern Sacramento Valley. I left my office in Montague around noon and headed south down Interstate 5 through heavy snow around Mt.Shasta before settling in just off I-5 near Corning. When I arrived there was some decent sun which quickly vanished under the cover of low clouds. One decent cell did go up which I followed for awhile until it went into the land of few roads in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
It had a healthy updraft base (by California standards).
It appeared to be supercellular for a short time, producing frequent CG's, and lowering which looked wall cloud-ish to me.
Before I could get a closer look, it became wrapped in rain. As that storm drifted east, my GR showed a quarter sized hail.
There were several severe warned storms around Sacramento and Stockton with one tornado confirmed in the Stockton. I made it back home in time to watch the Sharks edge the Blues in the second overtime period. I'm looking forward to my stint as a driver for Martin Lisius, Bill Reid and Tempest Tours in mid May. I cannot wait to get back into the Plains!
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