Bill Hark
EF5
This is a very long report. Scroll down to the images if you don't want to read it!!
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. Although I didn’t have close views of the tornadoes, I did see an amazing supercell from a distance that allowed me to appreciate the entire storm structure. I saw at least three tornadoes from this storm and possibly one from the Kearney storm. The darkness and distance makes an exact count difficult but it is the structure that most impressed me on this chase. Congratulations to Charles Edwards who was able to maneuver his group to see close views of the tornadoes associated with the storm
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/052908rotatingwallcloud450pm.jpg
Close-up view of rotating wall cloud near 183 at 4:56PM CDT. Possible funnel visible.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908closeupwall456pmnear183.jpg
Enhanced view
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908closeupwall456pmnear183enhanced.jpg
Dust under wall cloud as it approaches 183 at 4:56PM CDT. View is to the north along 183.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908dustunderwallroute183at459pm
The wall cloud becomes elongated as it passes over 183. View to north on 183 at 5:00PM CDT.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908rotatingwall500pmN183by742photo.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/052908powerflashkearney529pm.jpg
Tornadic storm has just passed east of Kearney. Notice the bowl-shaped lowering.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908tornadicstormEofKearney.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/052908classicsupercell845pm.jpg
Close-up of the storm. A tornado or funnel is visible at 8:46PM.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicsupercellZ1846.jpg
Beautiful view of the storm after the tornado crossed the road.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicsupercell847pm.jpg
Wedge tornado forming at 8:52PM.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicwedgeformingZ1852PM.jpg
Wedge tornado at 8:53PM
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicwedgetornadolight853pm.jpg
Another view of the wedge tornado.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicwedgetornado853PM.jpg
Bill Hark
http://www.harkphoto.com
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. Although I didn’t have close views of the tornadoes, I did see an amazing supercell from a distance that allowed me to appreciate the entire storm structure. I saw at least three tornadoes from this storm and possibly one from the Kearney storm. The darkness and distance makes an exact count difficult but it is the structure that most impressed me on this chase. Congratulations to Charles Edwards who was able to maneuver his group to see close views of the tornadoes associated with the storm
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/052908rotatingwallcloud450pm.jpg
Close-up view of rotating wall cloud near 183 at 4:56PM CDT. Possible funnel visible.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908closeupwall456pmnear183.jpg
Enhanced view
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908closeupwall456pmnear183enhanced.jpg
Dust under wall cloud as it approaches 183 at 4:56PM CDT. View is to the north along 183.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908dustunderwallroute183at459pm
The wall cloud becomes elongated as it passes over 183. View to north on 183 at 5:00PM CDT.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908rotatingwall500pmN183by742photo.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/052908powerflashkearney529pm.jpg
Tornadic storm has just passed east of Kearney. Notice the bowl-shaped lowering.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908tornadicstormEofKearney.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/052908classicsupercell845pm.jpg
Close-up of the storm. A tornado or funnel is visible at 8:46PM.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicsupercellZ1846.jpg
Beautiful view of the storm after the tornado crossed the road.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicsupercell847pm.jpg
Wedge tornado forming at 8:52PM.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicwedgeformingZ1852PM.jpg
Wedge tornado at 8:53PM
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicwedgetornadolight853pm.jpg
Another view of the wedge tornado.
http://www.harkphoto.com/052908classicwedgetornado853PM.jpg
Bill Hark
http://www.harkphoto.com
