2014-09-29 REPORTS: NM/CO

[John Farley]

I headed out from Pagosa Springs, CO around 3:30 to intercept a strong cell I had been watching on radar as it developed in San Juan County, NM and moved toward Navajo Lake on a track that would eventually bring it near the CO/NM state line somewhere around Chromo, CO or Dulce, NM. I had not really been paying much attention to weather as I had been extremely busy, but this looked like too good a storm too close to home to pass up. But I didn't really imagine that I would end up seeing a tornado. But lo and behold, that is exactly what I saw about 8 miles west of Chama, NM, near the split of U.S. 84 and 64. I was approaching the meso from the north, kind of on the leading edge of the hail core, when suddenly low, rotating clouds surged eastward about a mile and a half ahead of me. I strongly suspected tornado, but was not 100% sure until I got to where the damage path crossed the road I was on (U.S. 84). Once I did, I knew that it was indeed a tornado. Here is a video capture:

Unfortunately, I then noticed a farmstead that had been badly damaged. I went to check to see if everyone was OK. Turns out they were, but the farmer and an employee had a very close call in the machine shed that was destroyed (picture below). They were in it when the tornado hit, and they ran out of it, with no time to get into another building. The farmer told me they were lucky to be alive, and I believe he is right, but fortunately they were both uninjured. Here are a couple pictures of the damage, taken with the permission of the farmer:

A short Youtube video of the tornado can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TibNHiJ8Jso


I will get around to a full report as time permits.

 

[John Farley]

My full chase report, with additional pictures and details of my chase, can be found at http://www.johnefarley.com/chase92914.htm

The Albuquerque NWS did a damage survey yesterday. They rated the tornado high-end EF-1, with a path length of 2.3 miles and a maximum path width of 0.4 miles.

 

[Robert Forry]

Great catch John! I know what that's like to be involved in something else, not really watching the weather, then you look and are like "what the heck?" Next thing you know you've dropped everything and are headed out. Nice shot and great video too..