Skip Talbot
EF5
Intercepted the central IL HP supercell and followed it (or let it chase me) from NE of Griggsville to Champaign. It was one of my longest pursuits of a tornado warned storm as I was on it for almost four hours. Thank god for IL roads. Almost all the roads in the grid were paved so it was easy to stay ahead of the fast moving HP sup without getting munched.
At the initial intercept I was completely unconvinced about the storm and its longetivity. It was behind the boundary and it appeared be bowing out. There was almost nothing happening under the base. After following it for a few miles I dropped back down to 72 and headed east to Springfield to catch something new. A new cell formed south of 72 but the base of this storm was elevated and unorganized. However, when this storm merged with the original tornado warned storm, a real HP beast developed. I was able to get into the notch a few times noting a very dramatic base, make-you-stay-in-your-car CG, and an attempt at a wall cloud. Unfortunately, this stom was mostly bark and no bite. It seemed perpetually gusted out and on the cold side of the boundary. I finally let it core me when I got to Champaign county noting winds approaching severe level and some half inch hail.
At the initial intercept I was completely unconvinced about the storm and its longetivity. It was behind the boundary and it appeared be bowing out. There was almost nothing happening under the base. After following it for a few miles I dropped back down to 72 and headed east to Springfield to catch something new. A new cell formed south of 72 but the base of this storm was elevated and unorganized. However, when this storm merged with the original tornado warned storm, a real HP beast developed. I was able to get into the notch a few times noting a very dramatic base, make-you-stay-in-your-car CG, and an attempt at a wall cloud. Unfortunately, this stom was mostly bark and no bite. It seemed perpetually gusted out and on the cold side of the boundary. I finally let it core me when I got to Champaign county noting winds approaching severe level and some half inch hail.




