chrisbray
EF4
By chance, I saw the tornado warning for Will County as I was watching the hockey game, not even paying much attention to the weather since it was such a marginal 0% tornado risk day. I checked the radar real quick and saw the couplet about ten miles north of my house, threw on shoes and rand out the door. I drove north not even about 5 minutes out of town and I could see the funnel! I pulled over and snapped some Iphone Video and pictures, not wanting to waste any time trying to tripod my real camera because I knew it could disappear at any moment.
IMG_0383[1] by chris bray, on Flickr
IMG_0386[1] by chris bray, on Flickr
I did hop back in my car after a minute or so hoping to get closer. I watched the tornado rope out as I drove north a few more miles, and by the time I found a good spot to stop again it was over. I followed the storm east through Manteno as the tornado sirens blared, but I could tell it was all over by then. I could see the whole group of storms was merging and the gust front stretched from horizon to horizon. I did keep an eye on it for about 45 more minutes but then went back home. I knew I had gotten extremely lucky with a mesoscale accident within an otherwise bland, subsevere cluster of storms. In fact, I don't think I even heard thunder nor saw lightning during that whole hour of chasing!
Easiest and most relaxing storm chase ever!
Here is the video


I did hop back in my car after a minute or so hoping to get closer. I watched the tornado rope out as I drove north a few more miles, and by the time I found a good spot to stop again it was over. I followed the storm east through Manteno as the tornado sirens blared, but I could tell it was all over by then. I could see the whole group of storms was merging and the gust front stretched from horizon to horizon. I did keep an eye on it for about 45 more minutes but then went back home. I knew I had gotten extremely lucky with a mesoscale accident within an otherwise bland, subsevere cluster of storms. In fact, I don't think I even heard thunder nor saw lightning during that whole hour of chasing!
Easiest and most relaxing storm chase ever!
Here is the video