5/29/08 REPORTS: KS/NE/SD/IA/WY

[Aaron Kennedy]

Quick: Myself and two other UND grad students intercepted the southern SD "supercell" a.k.a quasilinear-rotating-junk west of Yankton.


Long: Tim Logan, Dan Addriaansen and I departed Grand Forks at 9am with Sonic in Sioux Falls as a goal. After watching countless Sonic commericals on TV, it was finally time to take advantage of the nearest Sonic location. We rolled into Sioux Falls and had a delicious lunch and debated our options. Not that there were too many... it was readily apparent we needed to head SW towards Yankton to punch through the foggy/drizzly mush and into the cu field. By 3:30 or so we were hanging out south of Yankton in NE waiting for initiation. There, we ran into Ed Ballou and Nick Hartley, two chasers from Brookings, SD. Eventually, some towers (and echoes on radar) caught our interest occuring over the Missouri River. We made our way north through Yankton and headed west at about the time the storm first became tornado warned.

The storm appeared outflow dominant and somewhat linear from the get-go, but a decent rotating wall cloud developed straight ahead of us. With some striations above this, we held some promise that perhaps the mass of convection would congeal into something more discrete. Quick storm motions kept us on our toes, and it was catchup from now on in the shadow of the Missouri River Valley. The chase climaxed a short time later when a massive RFD cut/wrap-up practically occurred on top of us (1/2 mile to our north, shot is at 12mm!). This probably goes down as the most violent rotation/cloud motion I've seen that did not produce a tornado (at least to our eyes). Too close for my comfort zone... we high-tailed it out of there. At that point, road options got sparse and we lost ground. By then, the "supercell" had its chance and then became completely absorbed in the developing line. There are several reports of tornadoes in the area, but until I see some footage, I remain skeptical. (nevermind!)
Springfield, SD Tornado
Apparently this occurred just after initiation while we were driving en route... to much haze to see anything early on.


We called off the chase near Vermillion along I-29 and headed back home... finally arriving around 1:30am or so.

Overall a so-so chase from my perspective, but the two grad students who went with (chaser newbies) are hooked. For that, I consider it a success.
Photos

 

[Colin Davis]

Some photos from our chase...

Early in the day; this WOULD be the Kearney storm eventually...

As close as it came to doing its thing

Even the undercut made for a nice scene...would have been a damn gorgeous tornado, had it formed.


Later in the day (low-quality vidcaps)...

First tornado on the Beloit storm, later took on a thin rope form. We'd get within 200 yards of this tornado (winds screaming into it >70mph) as it neared the end of its life cycle.

Tornado number 2 forms under the new, dominant meso, quickly becoming multi-vortex.

Takes on a classic cone/dustbowl form later in its life; this tornado flirted between multi-vortex swirls, cones, ropes, and dustbowls for the entire time it was visible to us.


More images (the good ones are digicams, lower quality are caps; follow the numbers for the tornadoes' lifecycles) are located here, for now:

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk32/CDIrishFan/

 

[Matt Chatelain]

Like many others our day started off on the Kearney, NE storm where we witnessed the fairly weak tornadoes SW of town and also saw the power flashes as it was entering town.

We then dropped south into the Beloit, KS storm as the Kearney storm appeared to be turning into an HP mess. We then witnessed the most insane tornado and storm structure any of us have seen. We were about 3/4 to 1 mile away from the multi-vortex just SW of Glen Elder. Some of the vorticies grew very large and violent. It finally morphed into a large cone directly on the road in front of us and moved away from us as we got cut off in damage.


The video can be seen on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8NENOeKjaM

Here is a blurry still of one of the stronger vorticies:

 

[Linda Kitchen]

Kathy and I started the day from York and headed west. We caught the Kearney storm and filmed power flashes. We never had good visibility of the tornado but we could see heavy rotation. We decided to get on I80 and head east to get out ahead of it. We got off at Grand Island and filmed and we got off at Aurora. We headed north 1/2 mile and filmed a wedge that guickly enveloped an antenna tower. We knew it was heading directly for us so we tried to blast back to I80 but was overtaken by the storm. We had to stop and ride it out. After it passed we were shocked to see the heavy damage that surrounded us. We were very lucky. It had a damage path of at least 1/2 a mile. It was one of those situations where it was closer than we thought and very large. The next day we went back to get damage photos and met channel 3 news out of Omaha. They used some of our video of the wedge on their newcast. When I get home from chasing I will try to upload the video to Utube.

 

[Damon Scott Hynes]

Here's my full account: http://opensecrets.us/29May2008KearneyNebraskaTornadoes.html

 

[Alex Fisher]

Had a very frustrating chase day in Central Nebraska as the storms never seemed to do what was expected. Saw a few good wall clouds and some tornado damage in Aurora.

 

[Bill Hark]

This is a very long report. Images at the bottom. This report was previously in the wrong thread.


May 29th was a very exciting and difficult chase. Although I didn’t get close video of the tornadoes, I did observe a magnificent classic supercell and multiple distant tornadoes including a wedge tornado. I started the day in Wichita, Kansas. I initially had two very different targets based on the position of the surface low and warm front: northeastern Nebraska and Colby, KS area for dryline storms. I was getting very different results depending on the forecast model. I was also concerned about the veered 850 mb winds.I talked with other chasers including Charles Edwards and Tim Vasquez. Everybody had different strategies. Finally, I decided upon the Hebron area. As I drove north, I checked additional data and shifted to Grand Island as a nice compromise. I still also liked northwestern Kansas but had more concerns about moisture. Being on the interstate, I could easily shift positions if necessary. There was a tongue of moisture pushing northward into central Nebraska with localized backing of surface winds due to the low. Upper level support was good. I arrived at Grand Island in early afternoon and joined the growing chaser convergence. I met a lot of nice chasers along with seeing ones I already knew. Charles Edwards arrived a bit later with his tour group. I continued to monitor the conditions.

By 1:55 PM, the satellite showed a nice cumulus field to the southwest. A storm rapidly developed near McCook. I waited awhile longer checking data before leaving Grand Island and heading west on I-80. I wanted to make sure that would be the best storm to target. I did see a tour group (not Cloud 9) pulled over by the highway patrol along the interstate. As I drove west, the storm intensified as it shifted northeastward into better moisture. I wanted to intercept it on 283 but a long stretch of 1 lane construction had slowed my progress. The supercell , still south of I-80, was blocking my initial south option. I turned south earlier at exit 248, then blasted west on winding dirt roads toward the storm. I could see an intermittent wall cloud. I drove about 3 miles west of 745 and watched the approaching storm. Road choices were difficult. I had to back track, then go south on A Road. I followed the storm eastward along rutted dirt roads including 742. Keeping up was difficult as I splashed through muddy areas and avoided potholes. This was not a storm I wanted to core punch due to large hail. As expected, it intensified as it encountered the higher dewpoints. I saw some dust under a wall cloud near 183 at 4:55 PM though it is unclear if I saw a brief tornado. I turned briefly north on 183. The wall cloud became elongated and almost funnel-like at 5:00PM. It was due north. I had to continue east on 742 as I didn’t have safe east options that were closer to the storm. At times, I could barely see a rain-wrapped funnel to the north. I turned north again on 44 toward Kearney. The storm was almost north. At 5:25PM, I saw the first power flash under the main upraft of the storm. I stopped south of Kearney on 44 and noticed Charles and his group nearby. We watched the edge of a large rain-wrapped tornado move through town causing more power flashes at 5:28 PM. The tornado appeared as a faint bowl-shaped lowering or wedge. Visibility was terrible. I drove east behind Charles and his group who then turned north to enter I-80 just on the edge of the core. The storm was now moving along the interstate with new cores forming to the west. There were still tornado warnings including for Grand Isle but any tornadoes would be wrapped in rain. This was a big HP mess. Charles stopped at a gas station while I continued on I-80 watching the storms. According to Threatnet, there was a large isolated supercell in Kansas. Maybe I could reach the storm before dark. I blasted south. At one point, I got stuck between the new and the old tornado intercept vehicles along with their entourage and the Doppler on Wheels. They were also going south. I didn’t know the DOW could move so fast. As I neared the Kansas town of Beloit, I noticed a low tire pressure warning for the right rear tire. The massive supercell was rapidly approaching Beloit from the west. If the storm took a right-turn, Beloit would be hit. There were already reported tornadoes to the southwest with this storm. I checked the tire at a Beloit gas station while refueling and a big nail was sticking out of the side wall. Arrghhh!! There wasn’t enough time to change it. I put some air in the tire and it seemed to be holding. I didn’t attempt to move the nail. I carefully drove slightly to the west. I didn’t want to get too close to a tornadic storm with a damaged tire. By 8:35 PM, I could the massive storm towering into the sky. The whole storm was visibly rotating. The storm structure was incredible. I could see a faint wall cloud with intermittent tornado touchdowns but it was too far away and dark to see much detail. The whole storm was similar to idealized drawings of supercells in textbooks. This was amazing. I shifted slightly more west since I could easily see the storm’s movement. I really wanted to speed west but that would be too dangerous. I was also in awe at this massive rotating cylinder towering into the sky. I took a few pictures but there were too many nearby lightning strikes to set up a tripod. At approximately 8:46 PM, the tornado crossed the highway to my west. It seemed to lift, but then I saw a massive wedge in the growing darkness. This was northwest of my position at 8:53PM. I am glad the storm didn’t hit Beloit but other towns were damaged in the supercell’s long path. By then, it was too dark to film, and I really was uncomfortable with the tire. I slowly made my way back to Beloit and changed the tire. Air was now leaking at a greater rate. I stayed around for awhile and ran my radar for some locals including a very nice rancher who lived north of town. Finally, I slowly drove east and south towards Wichita. Speed was limited on those small spare tires.
This was an awesome chase and a great way to end my chase vacation.

Images from the chase

Mike Theiss checking data with two of the Cloud 9 Tours participants
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908cloud9waiting.jpg

Team Remora: Two of many chasers I met while waiting for storm development. Notice the metal grill on their car for hail protection
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908teamremora.jpg

Kearney Tornadic Storm

Developing supercell, 4:30 PM CDT slightly southwest of exit 248 on I-80 in Nebraska
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908supercell430pm.jpg

Rotating wall cloud to the north at 4:50 PM CDT
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908rotat...cloud450pm.jpg

Close-up view of rotating wall cloud near 183 at 4:56PM CDT. Possible funnel visible.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908close...6pmnear183.jpg
Enhanced view
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908close...83enhanced.jpg

Dust under wall cloud as it approaches 183 at 4:56PM CDT. View is to the north along 183.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908dustu...oute183at459pm

The wall cloud becomes elongated as it passes over 183. View to north on 183 at 5:00PM CDT.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908rotat...by742photo.jpg

Looking north toward Kearney, Nebraska at 5:28PM as it is being hit by the tornado. The tornado is mainly rain-wrapped.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908viewtoKearney528pm.jpg

Power flash in Kearney from the tornado
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908power...arney529pm.jpg

Tornadic storm has just passed east of Kearney. Notice the bowl-shaped lowering.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908torna...EofKearney.jpg

Images from the second storm, a massive tornadic supercell west of Beloit, Kanas
Caught between two TIV’s while driving south.

TIV 1
http://www.harkphoto.com/052901tiv1.jpg

TIV2
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908tiv2.jpg

Classic supercell. I am west of Beloit, Kansas looking west at 8:40PM. Multiple tornadoes have been forming from this storm. This massive storm was visibly rotating.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908clasicsupercell840pm.jpg

Photo of the supercell at 8:45PM
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908tornadicsupercell.jpg

Lightning from the supercell at 8:45PM.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908class...rcell845pm.jpg

Close-up of the storm. A tornado or funnel is visible at 8:46PM.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908class...rcellZ1846.jpg

Beautiful view of the storm after the tornado crossed the road.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908class...rcell847pm.jpg

Wedge tornado forming at 8:52PM.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908class...ingZ1852PM.jpg

Wedge tornado at 8:53PM
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908class...light853pm.jpg

Another view of the wedge tornado.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908class...rnado853PM.jpg
__________________
William T. Hark Photography
http://www.harkphoto.com
KV0RTX

 

[Chris Hovanic]

Just returned 48 hours ago from a 1.5 week storm chasing vacation with Josh Stevenson, Neil Garrett, and Greg Stephens.

We followed the same general path as a large number of chasers on this day, intercepting the tornadic HP supercell in Kearney, NE, then dumping the storm as it began to evolve into more of a cluster, opting for more discrete activity in north-central Kansas.

After ditching the Kearney storm, we blasted southward on Highway 281, and after several forays onto other local highways, briefly intercepted a second supercell near Ionia, KS. This storm was an extreme example of an HP supercell as the entire mesocyclone was completely obscured by rain, and contrast was the lowest in recent memory. We quickly abandoned this storm for its southwestward counterpart moving into Osborne county, Kansas.

The Osborne county storm turned out to be the most beautifully created piece of atmospheric artwork I've ever been witness to. Arrival at the storm just east of Osborne, KS along Highway 181 was breathtaking. An immaculate stack of plates style updraft was present, with an enormous, ground-scraping wall cloud and accompanying inflow tail located underneath the storm base. After approximately 10 minutes or so, inflow increased rapidly and a brief tornado developed, preceded by a pronounced RFD clear slot. Not more than 1 or 2 minutes later, another tornado developed, maturing into a beautiful high-contrast stovepipe. We observed the tornado for a few minutes, before fleeing southward, where we were buffeted by 75-80 mph (estimated) RFD winds just NW of Tipton, KS.

We regrouped and headed back eastward on county roads, observing another brief tornado (as it appeared from our vantage point over a small hill, may have been one of the vortices from the reported multi-vortex tornado that developed), then a cone tornado. Precipitation and lack of light began to obscure our view of any tornadoes with the storm, however we observed power flashes in the direction of Jewell, KS.

After an inspection of radar and some additional repositioning, we decided it was safe to follow the storm after dark, heading northward on Highway 81 out of Concordia, KS. It was to the northwest of Highway 81, in the direction of Courtland, KS and Scandia, KS that we observed what appeared to be the end of a large wedge tornado illuminated by lightning. The storm crossed the road north of Belleville, where another beautiful stovepipe came into view in the direction of Munden, KS and Hubbell, NE. This stovepipe appeared to evolve into another wedge as it progressed into Nebraska, however the storm was becoming quite distanced from us at this time, so it may have just been a very low wall cloud or cleverly-shaped RFD precipitation.

A truly amazing day, and the highlight of my chasing career.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

Account from the Yankton storm here: http://www.extremeinstability.com/08-5-29.htm

It's pretty intersting that Kelly's multivortex tornado was most likely up there in this somewhere at the same time: http://www.extremeinstability.com/stormpics/2008/08-5-29-3931.jpg

 

[Tony Laubach]

I have the fully updated log up on my new site..

http://www.tornadoeskick.com/index.php/logs/2008-season/233-20080529.html