3/25/07 NOW: IA/WI/MN/IL

[Jeremy Ludin]

Figured since a new MD was issued it's about time for a NOW thread. (This is Joel Wright on Jeremy's laptop again lol).

We're sitting here in Stewertville MN gathering data. Some cumulus to our west, but there's also an annoying high level deck of cirrus moving closer.

We're watching the building cumulus field in north-central Iowa. It's looking like it's really starting to build now.

Post more later if we get the chance....

 

[Josh Richardson]

In Osage IA currently with Craig Maire and Alex Schissel watching over the CU field right behind us to our west in North Central IA. Just going to continue to wait for the cap to erode and watch the towers go up.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

What is Minneapolis doing to their radar? It'd be nice if they'd turn it back on today, lol.

 

[gschott]

Sitting here in Albert Lea, boy it is windy! Just talked to my brother in Fairmont and he told me they're just starting to tower over that way. Anytime boys and girls, anytime!!

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

What is Minneapolis doing to their radar? It'd be nice if they'd turn it back on today, lol.

Thanks! Can you put some storms on it now? I'm in Albert Lea pondering drifting west or southwest...into Nodataville IA most likely. It is rather odd chasing in MN in March. Nothing like seeing piles of snow all over the place in a Moderate Risk.

Edit: Boy do the sfc dews suck ahead of the western cu now. Going east into that terrain isn't very tempting though. Hmm.

 

[Paul Townsend]

A tornado watch will be issued shortly. Sitting here off of US 63 just south of Rochester. Moisture mixing out terribly to the southwest of here in far southcentral MN and northcentral IA.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Jenny and I are in Lime Springs, IA. There is snow on the ground here and the temp is 77. Its creating quite the stream down the side of the road. We have a cu field to our west moving off into MN and WI, clear skies to our east, and I can see the cirrus to the north. We have really good wifi here so I think we are going to stay put until initiation, unless something grabs my attention in the data.

 

[Andy Rice]

Sitting here in the La Quinta Parking Lot on 63 in Rochester, MN..... The wind is cranking in from the S or SSW......

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

I need to hear this Nelly Fertado song another time like I need the base of these cu to be higher.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Yeah Mike, the dewpoint spreads are significant. Well, maybe we'll see some picturesque, high based supercells before the tornado thread increases in the evening over the jungles of the upper MS valley. I noticed that there are storms firing in WI and that there is development extending southwest of that to near Forrest City, IA. Maybe that stuff will take off as it hits the higher instability to the east.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

I can see it now, 2007 known as the year of sw flow...too bad it's in reference to the surface all the time. I'm not sure any of this stuff will be able to ever move into better dews. Maybe the stuff firing over there will have a chance, but not too excited about this stuff at this point.

 

[J West]

New line of convection just starting to appear along the I-35 cooridor between the Cities and IA state line. Looks like those of you in the Albert Lea area may be in the right spot to pursue them as the fire up and move NE into the better environment east of the Mississippi. For the out of towners...be aware that chasing within 15 miles of the river is bordering on reckless due to the bluffs and significant foliage.

I'll be armchairing this event from work...good luck to those in the field.

 

[Jerry Funfsinn]

I'm just east of Owatonna MN watching the development to the west. High based that I can see from a distance, health precip core on the northern storm, will follow as it moves east.
Jerry Funfsinn
http://www.creativejetstream.com

 

[Adam Atkins]

The radar in MPX died

Warnings for 3 counties in the Min/St. Paul area...glad someone can see a current radar image

 

[Robbie Cox]

Show Time in Minnesota

AT 420 PM CDT...RADAR WAS TRACKING A SEVERE STORM WITH STRONG
ROTATION. THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS NEAR
VERMILLION...OR ABOUT 12 MILES NORTH OF CANNON FALLS...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HASTINGS...
PRESCOTT...