2018-05-21 REPORTS: NM/CO

[John Farley]

After starting out too far southeast and a lot of driving, I managed to get on a nice supercell near the center of New Mexico. It developed to the WNW of Carrizozo, took on supercell characteristics as it moved toward Claunch, and after passing over Claunch became HP as it moved toward Corona, where it dropped a lot of hail. Here are a few pictures, full report to follow.

Looking SW from near Claunch, around 6:00:


Meso a mile or so to my west, a little south of Claunch, around 6:45:

Hail accumulation around sunset, southwest of Corona:

The hail here was about 2 inches deep, with the biggest I saw around nickel size. Others in the area reported both deeper accumulations and larger stones.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

Can we add CO to this thread?

I went out yesterday afternoon to shake out the cobwebs from being housebound for two weeks with a spasming lower back. I decided to go out after a dinky little cell SW of my home in Strasburg because it looks like it might present some good structure to shakedown the gear after a dusty winter of non-use. I was about to head E down US36 to get far enough out front to get some structure. That's when I saw the hard right turn...

I hopped back on 70 and high-tailed it to Deer Trail and took CR38 West straight towards the now rotating cell. My plan was to head it off on Ridge Road (CR185), a N-S well maintained and scenic dirt road. While heading south I noticed the storm intensifying. I stopped at the intersection of CR185 and CR166 and waited as the storm started to develop a small hook.

I chose Eastbound CR166 to avoid dirt mixed with rain and headed back East. I stopped at CR162 and CR129 to take a look and that's when it got the TOR Warning. I waited a while, and being in not the greatest position, didn't see much aside from a very energetic storm with a lot of rotation. I snapped a few pictures, and continued on east to Agate, then South to Cedar Point. After the crazy hook, of which I lost the RadarScope screenshot...bummer. I headed back home up 70 from Cedar Point.

I managed to catch the spin-up, just, that NWS and several other spotters reported as a tornado. Just visible lower right here as I was shooting wide. I was out after structure after all. Just there next to the telephone pole. I have some crappy video, but nothing worth posting.



Here are a couple more from the day. Successful first outing for me. Unfortunately RadarScope no longer works on my ancient iPad...so I'll be looking for a 10" tablet to replace it on chases.



Mammatus on the way home.

 

[kevin-palmer]

Most of the storms in northern Wyoming this day were unimpressive, and they all died out at sunset. But shortly before midnight I heard a new thunderstorm rumbling out of the Bighorn Mountains. Lightning was becoming very frequent, so I went to a rest area a few miles from home, where I knew I could stay out of the rain. After awhile I got a couple of okay shots. Most of the storm had moved off to the east behind me, and the moon came out. I was ready to call it a night, but I took one last exposure. That's when this happened.


A Flash of Brilliance by Kevin Palmer, on Flickr

I couldn't believe my luck, 2 seconds later and I would have missed it. Hundreds of raindrops can be seen frozen in mid-air from the brilliant flash. This could be called a 'bolt from the blue' I think since it was away from it's parent thunderstorm. I doubt I'll ever capture a closer strike than this one, if I do someone else may have to find my camera and publish the picture posthumously.

Also afterwards I saw my first moonbow, which was surprising since the moon was only a first quarter.


Moonbow by Kevin Palmer, on Flickr