6/05/09 DISC: WY/NE/TX

[Brian Stertz]

Stunning images so far from that Goshen Co. WY supercell and sequence of tornadoes...here is a radar capture during the most intense phase of this tornadic supercell. Jaw dropping structures on radar and some very strong couplets. A High Plains beast. Looks like V-2 and their weary band of chasers finally hit paydirt.

 

[Tim Marshall]

Witnessed the entire lifecycle (about 30 min) of the LaGrange, WY tornado with the V2 armada (my first WY tornado). Our closest pod recorded 25 m/s winds at 1 meter above the ground as the tornado passed just to the north. Grass was deposited on the equipment. The tornado was a truncated cone and had a beautifully contorted rope at the end. Definitely rates in my top 10 of all tornadoes. tm

 

[Brett Adair]

Here is an image near the peak intensity of the cell. Very good looking DRC...

 

[B. Kotcher]

Here's a clip from The Weather Channel's live broadcast. At 6:00 on this video, one of the most incredible things I've ever seen happens: the top of the tornado tips sideways and kind of detaches from the wall cloud and the camera momentarily looks straight down into the the funnel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFNwWFr-5uo

--Bob

 

[Larry J. Kosch]

Tornado Name Good!!

A number of chasers have been calling this the "La Grange" tornado. Melanie Kern-Favilla had this photo posted in the 06/05/09 reports thread that I think is an appropriate shot:

The town shown in the foreground is (drum roll) La Grange!! I was able to verify it for Melanie when I sent her a private message asking her what town she was shooting. She couldn't remember so I did some Yahoo map research for her. The clincher was the large blue roofed buildings on the right. They showed up very well on the Yahoo map.

http://maps.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTE...0345&lon=-94.101735&zoom=6&q1=harrisburg%20ne

Zoom in on Harrisburg, scroll up (north) until you find Pumpkin Creek Road, scroll left (west) until you find La Grange. Zoom in more to see the street details and you will see the large blue roof buildings (Set your map page to Hybrid)

Kudos to Melanie for a great, timely shot!!

Edit: I checked the Yahoo maps again. La Grange is just across the NE-WY border when you follow the Pumpkin Creek Road from Harrisburg NE. Initially I thought this town was in NE. Sorry!