2014-06-16 REPORTS: NE/ IA/ MN/ IL/ WI/ SD/ ND

[sdienst]

Just getting back onto Stormtrack like many others and figured I'd post on my last chase. 6/16/14 was probably the 3rd or 4th time in Nebraska for me in 2014 so I was a bit hesitant booking the flight from HOU -> OMA the morning of the 16th. Ended up being one of my best chases in 10 years. Here are a few video grabs.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

Not much to add...Pretty simple day for me, started literally right below where the first tower went up, sat in same spot for nearly an hour watching light sprinkles develop and dissipate in same area before eventually watching the storm develop to produce the first tornado not even 15 miles from where first sprinkle fell. Outside of getting held up by debris briefly between the first brief EF-0 and second eventual Stanton tornado it was a pretty easy day, where I was able to watch every tornado from this power cyclic monster! Had a very close encounter <.5 miles at the point both twins peaked and cross paths, overall a safe and effective chase day where I was able to actively communicate information to WFO, remain safe, have fun and shoot some stills and video along the way.

Probably some of my best tornado video ever...Video will be available on a DVD currently in the later stages of production that will be available soon!
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First Tornado (before storm was even T-Warned) just outside of Madison

The 1st EF-4 that just missed Stanton right after Developing

View after getting held up by Debris and falling bit behind, big occluded barber poll just W of Stanton

At intersection of Hwy 275 N of Stanton

Second EF-4 or Pilger Tornado Just Exiting Town, 3rd EF-4 just developing just SE of Pilger

Development of 4th EF-4 or Wakefield Tornado

And I can't leave out the Gorgeous Conclusion to the day after bailing back West near Petersburg for another storm right at sunset!

 

[Ethan Schisler]

Going to conjure up an old reports thread because I found an old memory card last night with some photos from the Pilger (6/16/14) day that I had not previously posted on here. I don't honestly think I ever even posted here after the madness of that stretch ensued, it never crossed my mind.

I remember starting off the day in Galesburg and then I drove to Sioux City, IA and noticed a warm front/outflow boundary intersection to the SW and the insane 19z Omaha sounding and knew it was on. A storm fired up and I was under it from rain shower to death documenting a number of intense tornadoes, multiple tornadoes at once/twin wedges, and other phenomena of such. Was a rather incredible day which was quickly stiffled by the sadness of hearing about the loss of life in Pilger. I had cell issues all day and didn't get data until that evening when I got from the Burwell storm and found out about exactly how everything unfolded. I guess it was sensory unoverload, I knew something major/a town had been hit, but I wasn't on social media and did not know the extent. Here are some of my captures from this day mostly shot at 24mm with some shot at 14mm (Nikon 14-24mm):

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These were all taken within a minute or so of the tornado mowing through the center of town sadly. The roar was tremendous.

Here is a shot of the earlier violent tornado near Stanton, NE that I had never bothered posting and the Wakefield, NE tornado too:


Stanton, NE EF4 barely missing a farmhouse to the NW. The roar was incredible from this beast.


The Wakefield, NE EF4 at maximum width before becoming rainrwrapped.


Tornado roping out near Winside, NE.


Large violent (EF4) wedge tornado forming SW of Stanton, NE in the Elkhorn River valley.


Fully mature EF4 wedge under impressive structure as it barely missed Stanton to the NW. I have a feeling Stanton would have fared worse than Pilger had this monster gone through town. Most residents seemed oblivious to the Bowdle-esque tornado going on to their NW as well....likely due to its low contrast until you got up close and personal.


Violent tornado after tearing through a farmstead near Wisner, Nebraska. This is where I end as I've reached my 10 image cap. Fun trip down memory lane on one of my top 5 chases of all time. I managed to make it back W to the Burwell storm after the Pilger storm died upon entering Iowa (ha) and get some awesome structure, mammatus, and a great sunset.

 

[Andy Wehrle]

Thanks for twisting the knife again, @Ethan Schisler . Sioux City was my leaving-the-house target but that sounding you referenced was one of several things en route that led me to re-target TO Omaha taking I-35 south from 20 to I-80 west, which put me just far enough from the Pilger cell to miss the whole show.