3/7/09 REPORTS: KS

[Simon Brewer]

Documented multiple vortex tornado between Buhler and Hesston, KS near Dutch Road. The tornado-cyclone was really occluded at that point with rapid rotation, but I think the storm was struggling to ingest surface-based parcels, so it couldn't produce any big-time tornadoes. Had good visual of the storm when tornadoes were reported in the Hutchinson area, but couldn't confirm any of those tornadoes. Supercell then became elevated and I dropped southwest along the broken-line of supercells (most of which were elevated as well), but got some okay lightning and sunset pics. I've always loved chasing in March, despite the few oppurtunities that develop!
Below is link to webpage for this event:
http://www.stormgasm.com/3-7-09/3-7-09.htm

Below is link to YouTube Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU7wEZsSVy8

This is a video still of the multiple vortex tornado between Hesston and Buhler, KS:

Below is a structure shot near Hutchinson:

Lightning shot west of Wichita, KS:

http://www.stormgasm.com/3-7-09/IMG_2123 copys.JPG

 

[Eric Sipes]

Johnny Hall and I left Cordell at about 2pm toward our initial target of 20 miles S of Pratt, KS. We were too late to catch the Hutchinson storm so we decided to play along the line of smaller storms to the South. We intercepted our first storm near Sawyer, KS but, it quickly disorganized and fell apart. Our next storm was just west of Medicine Lodge, KS. As we drove down hwy 160 toward Medicine Lodge we noticed a nice developing wall cloud. We then drove North on Tri-City Rd to stay ahead of the storm. As we did it quickly formed a large cone shaped funnel. Not long after, it touched down for about 20 seconds before being wrapped in rain. In the same position we watch a second wall cloud form to the Southeast of the first and quickly get undercut by RFD and dissapate. We then followed the storm to the NE and observed another small ropey tornado after dark about 5 miles west of Zenda, KS before heading back. All in All, not a bad chase for early March.

-Eric


1st picture: Looking west toward a developing wall cloud near Medicine Lodge.
2nd picture: Looking west at a large funnel just before touching down a few miles North of Medicine Lodge. (Cannot confirm if it was on the ground at the time of the picture.)
3rd picture: Same location looking at a second wall cloud.
4th picture: Same location as the wall cloud and possible funnel are being undercut by the RFD.

I need a tri-pod

 

[Tony Laubach]

http://www.tornadoeskick.com/index.php/logs/2009-season/274-20090307.html

Had a fun little drive with Tyler Costantini and Jordan Hamilton into southern Kansas on Saturday. Saw a nicely time lapseable, non-rotating wall cloud near Andale, then intercepted a couple of storms down to the tail-end charlie where we might have seen the tornado reported 5 miles northeast of Attica.

Detailed report coming, but a 10-minute highlight video covering our adventure is at the above link. I expect to have photos and story written out tonight, so check back again!

http://www.tornadoeskick.com/index.php/logs/2009-season/274-20090307.html

 

[Bob Hartig]

Bill Oosterbaan and I intercepted the Hutchinson storm after it had produced the four reported tornadoes. Looking at some of my photos, we may have seen another, but I won't swear to it. We definitely saw a funnel, plus some nice structure. We finally left the northern storm and headed south to observe a tor-warned cell heading NE towards Wichita. The updraft base was paralleling SR42. Night had settled in, and it was hard to make out details, but we could see a wall cloud. Not much else, but with the southern edge of the storm directly overhead, and open sky with stars close by, the moonlit tower was really beautiful to behold.

Here are a few photos of the Hutchinson/Hesston storm. My personal favorite is the shot of Bill's GPS puck reflected in the windshield--I love how it's offset by the striated, birthday-cake meso in the background. BTW, I notice a vague, dark cone just left the reflection and wonder whether I captured a tornado in progress.

 

[sdienst]

Here is a link to a short YouTube video from one of the tornadoes just west of Hutchinson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU4EJIDqh9c

Also a link from Wichita NWS is up...
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=ict&storyid=23013&source=0

 

[Brandon Ivey]

I was on the Reno/Harvey County supercell and got a brief tornado that spun up underneath an area of rapid rotation overhead. No condensation all the way to the ground. Good chase overall. Measured 1.00" hailstones at one point during the chase. I don't think I added too many new dents to the new chase vehicle, which was good. Nice chase for March to say the least. I think the backed low level flow is what really helped to keep the small cells isolated today. If 850mb winds would have been parallel to the front, it would have become a linear mess in a hurry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlDiA1rMuq0

Since I cannot go back in there and edit my original post for the second time I will just make a new post. I have uploaded a new video that me and my chase partner shot of the tornado that occured near the Reno/Harvey Co. line near 82nd Road (Dutch Road). Disreguard that first link becuase I have deleted the video from YouTube and it will not work. Here is the new link.

http://thestormreport.com/blog/2009/03/march-7th-2009-harvey-county-ks-tornado/

 

[Dann Cianca]

I chased with Michael Carlson and you can read my full account with TONS of pictures and video here:

http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2009/03/storm-chase-ii-brief-saturday-march-7th.html