Jason Burns
Enthusiast
June 2 '05 - Storm with very high educational value for me
It's good to see discussion about this particular storm. This day is particularly meaningful to me; it is the storm that really cemented my interest in traveling a little to watch severe weather.
I grew up near Flagler, and was home from college for a few weeks at the time. I had been fishing with a high school friend that morning, and recall going back to my parents' place north of town to look at radar. I remember deciding between continuing up north toward a storm that was already underway along US 36, or heading west toward Limon. I went west, taking backroads to the SR-71 highway that runs north and south through Limon. I went south into Limon. I got there a little too late, and ended up having to drive back east on I-70 through heavy rain between Limon and about the Bovina exit. I do recall being mildly annoyed at the cars stopped on the Interstate under the overpasses at Genoa and Bovina. It was certainly a lesson learned; in retrospect I should have turned south toward I-70 when I was north of Genoa (at the time I was thinking I should reach pavement on SR-71 before I got into any rain).
By the time I reached Arriba I was back ahead of the storm. I heard tornado reports on weather radio by this time, but never saw anything along those lines. I got back to Flagler, and before long hail began falling. It was just after 7:00 p.m. local time. I parked on the east side of an abandoned car wash building. I had my ruler, and the largest hailstone I found measured 2 5/8", so I reported it to WFO Goodland. My pickup hood still has a few very minor 'scars' from this day. I decided to continue east on I-70, and made my way toward Stratton. By then, I believe the storm started taking a more southeast course, away from the Interstate, and not long afterward seemed to wind down. It was also getting dark.
Almost three years later, I am still fascinated by this storm. I was very happy to see it featured in Hollingshead & Nguyen's new book. Their photographs are amazing, as are Mr. Barricklow's.
I have read several online chase accounts from this day, including from Mike Hollingshead, Amos Magliocco & Eric Nguyen, Sam Barricklow, and Verne Carlson. Does anyone have or know about any additional logs from June 2? I'd love to read them. At this point, I'm almost more interested in detailed text logs, especially with good accounts from observations with specific places/times, and good anecdotal accounts, as I am in pictures. Thanks for your help!
Jason Burns, AC0BB
Denver, Colorado
It's good to see discussion about this particular storm. This day is particularly meaningful to me; it is the storm that really cemented my interest in traveling a little to watch severe weather.
I grew up near Flagler, and was home from college for a few weeks at the time. I had been fishing with a high school friend that morning, and recall going back to my parents' place north of town to look at radar. I remember deciding between continuing up north toward a storm that was already underway along US 36, or heading west toward Limon. I went west, taking backroads to the SR-71 highway that runs north and south through Limon. I went south into Limon. I got there a little too late, and ended up having to drive back east on I-70 through heavy rain between Limon and about the Bovina exit. I do recall being mildly annoyed at the cars stopped on the Interstate under the overpasses at Genoa and Bovina. It was certainly a lesson learned; in retrospect I should have turned south toward I-70 when I was north of Genoa (at the time I was thinking I should reach pavement on SR-71 before I got into any rain).
By the time I reached Arriba I was back ahead of the storm. I heard tornado reports on weather radio by this time, but never saw anything along those lines. I got back to Flagler, and before long hail began falling. It was just after 7:00 p.m. local time. I parked on the east side of an abandoned car wash building. I had my ruler, and the largest hailstone I found measured 2 5/8", so I reported it to WFO Goodland. My pickup hood still has a few very minor 'scars' from this day. I decided to continue east on I-70, and made my way toward Stratton. By then, I believe the storm started taking a more southeast course, away from the Interstate, and not long afterward seemed to wind down. It was also getting dark.
Almost three years later, I am still fascinated by this storm. I was very happy to see it featured in Hollingshead & Nguyen's new book. Their photographs are amazing, as are Mr. Barricklow's.
I have read several online chase accounts from this day, including from Mike Hollingshead, Amos Magliocco & Eric Nguyen, Sam Barricklow, and Verne Carlson. Does anyone have or know about any additional logs from June 2? I'd love to read them. At this point, I'm almost more interested in detailed text logs, especially with good accounts from observations with specific places/times, and good anecdotal accounts, as I am in pictures. Thanks for your help!
Jason Burns, AC0BB
Denver, Colorado
