Chased with Scott Blair, Al Pietrycha, and Mick McGuire this day. We caught the storm near Kadoka, which evolved into a supercell south of the Badlands National Park. We took I-90 to Cactus Flat then south into the Badlands National Park as the storm displayed an interesting lowering. We found a spectacular view over the Badlands near Interior, SD and observed the storm from there. After a few minutes, a funnel condensed with a dust column rising at the ground. The initial tornado touchdown was about 20 miles to our southwest near Kyle, SD and we ended up observing the entire 30 minute tornado from this location as it steadily moved closer to our location.
Once the tornado lifted, we headed east to Wanblee, SD and back north to Kadoka. The storm then took on more HP characteristics, but we were able to observe a second tornado for about 3 minutes as we we able to look inside the notch on the northern side of the updraft. This tornado was rain-wrapped and occurred about 7 miles southwest of Kadoka.
The storm began to gust out at this point with a racing wind-bag developing. We were able to get some decent structure shots as we drove east ahead of the surging outflow. However, the outflow caught up to us as we filled up with gas near Murdo where we observed an estimated 5-second gust of 70 mph. Unfortunately, my door was open at the time of the severe wind, and I acquired nearly ½ inch of rocks/debris on my floorboard.
Observed several supercells along with three tornadoes across northwest Kansas. I initially departed KC around 10am with a “closer” target near GLD due to work commitments the next day. In all actuality, there was no real rhyme or reason for choosing GLD over other areas in KS/southern NE as arguments could have been made either way based on adequate ingredients. However, I wanted to keep my data feed along the interstate and finally targeted Oakley, KS. Stout Cu development occurred around 21-22z with initiation soon thereafter. I got caught up on the first SVR cell near Winona and followed it to just north of Colby missing the first tornado on the southern cell near Sharon Springs. Due to poor road networks, was forced to wait on the Sharon Springs cell until it crossed I-70 near Edson, KS where I met up with Scott B. In the meantime, I observed another cell crossing I-70 that displayed great mid-level rotation and an evident meso. A small rope tornado breifly developed just prior to the storm crossing I-70 approximately 5 miels SSW Edson, KS at 7:49 pm. We repositioned north of Edson along a mud road to stay ahead of the supercell and around 8:08 pm, the second tornado developed approximately one mile to our south. This 5 minute long tornado glowed a brillant red as the sun lowed to the west presenting quite a show. Approximately 8:30 pm, a large tornado developed about 8 miles north of Edson moving towards the town of Bird City. We observed this tornado for about 20 to 30 minutes as it transitioned to a wedge near Bird City.
Observed a tornado near Holden, MO. Began the day working the radar at the FO before getting off just before 5pm. The day was characterized by a decent cold core setup with a vigorous closed off low traversing central Kansas and favorable positioning of the associated sfc low. The severe threat was questionable as the afternoon progressed as a lack of clearing ahead of the line of convection limited the available Cape for vigorous low level vertical motion. Initially, most of the convection that developed across southwestern Missouri was sub-severe producing isolated pea sized hail. However just after 4:30pm, an isolated low topped supercell developed across eastern Cass Co, MO moving north-northeast. I was able to intercept the cell as it moved across the town of Holden in Johnson, CO. After initially driving through the small hail core, I was able to view the well developed white tornado near Holden. Due to a malfunction to my windshield wiper, I was unable to shoot any pictures while in the precip region. However, during the latter stages of the tornado life cycle, I was able to break away from all precip and snap a shot with the only camera I had available at the time…my camera phone (image to left). Unfortunately, there were reports of structural damage to residence and businesses in the town of Holden. After a damage survey the next morning…the tornado was rated an EF1 as it crossed areas to the south and east of Holden.
RSS
Comments (0) 
