Good day all,
This is my full chase report for May 1, 2018 in North-Central Kansas...
Above: Tescott Kansas tornado nearing full width and intensity northwest of Culver. The view is to the southeast.
Chase Summary: May 1 was a well executed and highly productive chase day, with extremely large hail and a significant tornado observed late in the day in north-central Kansas. The target area was anywhere from Russell to Salina, and north of and near Great Bend, Kansas. The SPC had this area in a moderate risk outlook as of 1630z, with a 10% tornado and 45% hail (both hatched for significant), and a 30% wind threat offset slightly to the northeast of the area. I forecasted and left Elk City, Oklahoma via Highway 34 north. Took Highway 60 east to 281 north into Kansas, and reaching Great Bend for a late lunch. Met with Reed Timmer and his group as well as several other chasers (Tony Laubach, etc) at a Pizza Hut. Shortly after, SPC issued MCD 304 and subsequent tornado watch box 59 covering a large area and valid until 10 PM CDT. Headed north on 281 to near Russell on I-70 and the first storm was encountered north of there. Later headed back down 281 to a second storm near Hoisington, Kansas, and followed that north and east along Highways 56 and 156 to near I-70 north of Ellsworth. A weak tornado was observed there. I continued east on I-70, then north to Highway 18 east of Trescott where a large tornado was intercepted. Afterwards, I headed east to Highway 81 and then I-135 south to Salina, spending the night there.
Details of storm observations...
1). May 1, 5:00 PM - Interception and observation of a very severe and later tornadic thunderstorm north of Russell, Kansas in Russell County, from along Highway 281 and to south of SR 18 near Waldo. The storm was a classic to HP supercell storm. A rotating wall cloud was observed with this storm, but it was abandoned for a better second supercell to the south. Eventually this storm will move NE and produce a large tornado near Concordia. The core was not penetrated, but contained hail at least golfball sized and 60 MPH winds. Heavy rain, small hail, and frequent lightning was encountered. The storm was caused by surface heating, a low pressure area, dryline / stationary front interactions, and an upper trough. A 2016 Jeep Wrangler was used to chase the storms. Documentation was HD video and digital stills. A tornado watch was also valid for the area until 10 PM CDT.
2). May 1, 7:30 PM - Interception, observation, and direct penetration of an extremely severe and tornadic thunderstorm from near NW 150 Road and Highway 281 in Hoisington, Kansas in Barton County and northeastward to Ellsworth near I-70 and Highway 14, and eventually into Ottawa County east of Tescott and south of Minneapolis near SR 18 and Highway 81. This storm was a powerful cyclic supercell, mostly classic mode. The storm was first encountered around 6:15 PM near Hoisington and east of Otis, Kansas, and 60 MPH winds, frequent lightning, moderate rain, and extremely large hail between baseball and grapefruit sized (at least 3") were observed. The large hail damaged the HAM antenna on the chase vehicle, bending it almost in a loop and breaking the base (the hail guards protected the windows as intended). The storm also had a rotating wall cloud and a funnel was observed near Hoisington. The storm cycled down and was tracked to the north of Ellsworth, where a small tornado (rated EF-0) was observed near SR 14 and just south of I-70 at about 7:00 PM. Continuing east on I-70 and north to SR 18 to the east of Tescott, and very large and dangerous tornado was observed over open country between 7:30 and 8 PM CDT. This tornado was rated EF-3, with a maximum width of 1/2 a mile. The entire life cycle of this wedge tornado was documented at close range, until occlusion and demise to the SW of Minneapolis, KS and NW of Bennington. Within this tornadic environment, some light debris was noted falling from the sky, with hail bouncing by exceeding 2" and 70+ MPH winds (inflow jet and RFD) with eventual heavy rain wrap. The storm also had frequent lightning and a striking visual appearance, with an appearance of an "upside down wedding cake" or "stack of plates", inflow beavers tail, and with full RFD cut with the wedge tornado beneath it. Fortunately this tornado remained over rural country. Power poles along SR 18 were snapped, and ground scouring was also noted. The storm was caused by surface heating, a low pressure area, dryline / stationary front interactions, and an upper trough. A 2016 Jeep Wrangler was used to chase the storms. Documentation was HD video and digital stills. A tornado watch was also valid for the area until 10 PM CDT.
Video of this event can be seen at the link below...
Picture log is below (For May 1)...
Above: Large wall cloud on the storm north of Russell, Kansas.
Above: This is a broken hailstone picked up from the ground near a grain silo off NW 150 Road north of Hoisington, Kansas. The stone here is nearly 3 inches in diameter, and since it's fractured, the growth rings are prominent in this specimen.
Above: A weak tornado (rated EF-0) was spawned by the supercell storm as it began re-intensifying near the intersection of I-70 and SR 14 north of Ellsworth. This tornado was brief with a barely noticeable dust cloud beneath it, and did not last long.
Above: View of developing tornado east and southeast of Tescott, Kansas. Note the cows in the foreground!
Above: Wedge tornado now just about to cross Highway 18. Lour roar audible. Most of the power poles were taken down and some ground scouring. Fortunately this tornado did not hit any homes or structures.
