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7/27/09 REPORTS: KS/CO/WI

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael O'Keeffe
  • Start date Start date

Michael O'Keeffe

Got some of my best lightning pics to date here are a few with the rest on my blog.

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More Photos Here
 
Chase partner Justin and I encountered heavy damage after what is assumed to be a microburst hit South Topeka in the Montara housing community. Here are a couple pictures Justin snapped while we were checking out the damage..

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Notice that piece of plywood? That fence was not in that state prior to the storm, that plywood destroyed that fence. You can see where a piece of the plywood still lays in front of the fence. Very high winds.

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I chased yesterday in NE Colorado. A few storms went severe warned but as soon as I would get to them, they would weaken, then re-intensify further away from me. It was pretty frustrating as I was leap frogging from cell to cell. Finally I caught a pretty impressive dust storm near Hoyt. Overall, nothing too impressive, but it did feel good to get out there. Primary and backup batteries on my XTI died, but I did get some video of the dust storm which is posted on my blog along with a full wrap up of yesterday...
 
JULY 27, 2009 CHASE LOG HERE

Ed Grubb, Jenn Grubb, and myself ventured out yesterday with low hopes and did all right all things considered. We ventured out, met with Scott Hammel long enough to go play in the dust, blasted through the bird mine field, and ended up on the wrong side of a surprise tornado-warned cell north of Limon. We took some nickels and a lot of the measured 60mph wind gusts, but not a lot beyond all that.

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Brian Hastings and I caught up with the Marquette and Green Lake Co supercell just west of Montello and followed it as it drifted SE towards Dodge Co. Milwaukee NWS confirmed a 9 mile long tornado track based on damage, and spotter reports, acknowledging that the condensation funnel may not have reached the ground. Doug Raflik had some pictures of a funnel, we did not see that or ground circulation. We did see amazing inflow... Pic on right is just west of Montello. Inflow streaming overhead from behind us into the storm. Next pic is SE of Montello, at time NWS says tornado was doing damage, strong inflow from left to right. Fun chase close to home!
 

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Reports WI

Left Chicago again on I-88 hoping to minimize driving after a Des Moines bust (total day drive = 1/3 way back to CA) earlier in the season. Ended up going South on I-39 and then eventually back up NW to Galena, IL. Rather than waiting for cells to cross Mississippi I ventured up to WI (for New Glarus and gasoline) -- rather quickly WI cells went tornado warned. Roads not as good as favored West TX or Central IL but did manage to get some great views, end up under/in some rotation on 151 (note: set focus for infinity next time) and broadsided trying to get back down (visa vie detour) to Monroe, WI. Nice lightning show in rear view mirror heading back to City (and ultimately from roof deck that night).
 

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