3/31/07 NOW: IL / MO / IA

[Rich Dorfman]

19:27 radar scan looks like backbuilding se to ne of waterloo IA. perhaps action imminent but watch out for flash flood warning in area.

 

[Daniel Christianson]

Currently sitting at home in Omaha NE, i was out earlier and caught some cells near Lincoln, and up towards Murry NE, some rotation , a few shots i could nab on video before the rain came, and then stuff was weakening as it went north, lining out , but i see ahead of the line into IA theres more organization.. good luck everyone , the only chasing im doing now is the taco bell moving in and south into my stomach ;-)

 

[Brandon Sullivan]

heading home... we are heading east on I80... still some nice activity along and north of the warm front.. may hit some of that, not sure yet... depends on what sounds good for supper...

 

[Josh Richardson]

Finally getting the line of storms here in Mason City, no hail yet but certainly plenty of CG as Jeff had mentioned earlier. Ive been nowcasting for a couple of people today and it appears the only thing we came up with is a funnel in Guthrie Co.

 

[Danny Neal]

NOOOOOO! Tornado watch just issued for counties to the west of me. I have no chase vehicle currently (engine troubles) and have to sit this one out. Sours me to think a TOR watch is so close. Doesn't look like I will miss anything noteworthy so I am not TOO depressed I might get a nice squall line however if this thing holds together. Hoping it hits before dark though, which is not likely. Losing instability is never fun. We will see what happens. If anything happens close. I have my camera haha. No chase for me today

 

[J West]

I wouldn't get too excited. There are too many conditional needs for this to become a noteworthy event in northern IL and southern WI...noteably the lack of surface instability and the location of the front. Frankly, I'm a bit puzzled at the issuance of TOR box 102 this far north.

I've been watching this all afternoon, and I just can't see the front making it far enough north before nightfall...and even if it does, there is so much convective garbage up here right now that I just can't see a storm overcoming this, getting surface-based and rotating long enough to go tornadic.

 

[Danny Neal]

Strengthening low level jet along with E/SE surface winds that are sustained at least at my house at 20 mph. More than enough turn to at least produce "gustnado" type spin ups. Not expecting a 4/20/04 event. But it would be real nice to go out and see what I can find given the close proximity of the warm front and watch. Given the wind shear and remaining CAPE that lingers in this area, I guess I could see it. Main threat would be maybe dime-nickel sized hail and perhaps a short lived weak tornado. Especially from the Peoria area ENE to Kankakee. Anything north of there is in a substancially more stable environment. Given I am 20 miles south of Waukegan and then temperature is holding at 46 degrees while I am at 63 with 70 near Bloomington. I expect the warm front to keep gradually lifting to the north and perhaps can get a few electrified cells to pop up. Greatest threat for me will be between 8-11 pm and I wouldn't be surprised to see a weakening squall line. Especially the further north you go since east/southeast winds feeding that cool lake water into storm inflow. Although by that time I would expect the line to be all outflow dominated. Just my thoughts on the current and future situation. If I see a flash of lightning I will be happy. Yay storms.

 

[Jim Zandonai]

I agree..based on what was going on all day up here I didnt expect a Tornado Watch this far north either. That line is still holding together pretty well esp. in NW IL around DVN. I'd be happy and kind of surprised if it did stay together reaching RFD. Still time will tell.

 

[Danny Neal]

Well gag me with a spoon. Wisconsin is lighting up with warnings...okay not really lighting up but a couple is enough. Trained spotters reported a tornado earlier, also a funnel cloud, and now radar indicates a tornado. So far central IL has been quiet. Looking out my window I think the "warm front" is coming through. The reason I say that is the wind shifted to the south, I can see blue sky and there are tiny cells trying to pop up east of me. Line coming in from IA looks decent. Id be surprised if it held together however. Interesting note.....63 degrees here 8 miles to the northeast it is 50 and further north it is 46. Nice boundary if I do say so myself!

 

[Danny Neal]

Currently keeping an eye on the approaching squall line heading up from the Bloomington-Peoria area. Warnings going up for strong winds and marginal hail. Getting garbage convection forming around me. Really nice bow coming up from the southwest though. I wouldnt be surprised to see a few spin ups on the northern end. I might get some winds after all....hmmm. Tornado warnings continue in WI. Bet most people were not expecting that, that far north. Seems like its following the path of the Low as it heads into SW Michigan later on. Really liking the radar image I am seeing though from the southwest.

 

[Jim Zandonai]

Just had that line and stronger cell move through RFD. Had winds to 35-40mph and pea size hail. I am impressed with what I thought might not make it this far north and east. Always nice when the storms come to you ! Storms moving north at 55-60mph though. some good CG strike too..
For this time of year I'll take it !

 

[Danny Neal]

Just to add on to yesterdays report. Had a line of strong winds. No thunder, no lightning. Heavy Rain and winds to about 55 mph for maybe 5 minutes.