Scott Kapser
EF0
This was likely the most significant tornado event here in ND since the legendary June 17, 2010 event. I almost did not request time off for this fully expecting a cap bust as we always get a few days up here with insane severe parameters that are never realized under a unbreakable cap. There was a very distinct shortwave progged to arrive at the perfect time and I think this made the difference so I set out to my target of Jamestown ND. Of the two supercells that developed I watched the northern one starting as the first building tower out of the cumulus deck all the way to producing a strong tornado east of Jamestown. It was fascinating to watch the battle between this updraft and the cap as the storm slowly overpowered it, even in the more intense stages of this storm the stable capping layer created a striking smooth mothership section of the updraft. After one failed attempt at tornadogenesis the storm dropped a large strong tornado that was almost stationary. I was a lot farther away than I would like for this tornado, about five minutes before the tornado started, as I exited I-94 to head north BNSF had stopped a train blocking multiple crossings including a well travelled paved road, I had no way through and had to backtrack back to the interstate to go further east. This should be illegal! Aside from the massive inconvenience to the public this could be the difference between life and death if emergency vehicles cannot get through. Also got to take a friend on his first chase, was a pretty incredible experience for his first time out.
