Well the first chase day arrived.
It became obvious that the 23rd of May would be a chase day across the northern plains with a potent 500mb trough swinging through the northern plains, and a surface low pressure system moving through southern SD. Strong southerly wind flow and strong surface heating due to sunny skies allowed for the opportunity for convection to form from Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.
To make this area from southeast TX, me and two friends left at 9pm on the 22nd. We drove through the night and arrived in Columbus, Nebraska (central NE) around 2pm. After meeting up with some other friends and looking at data we decided to move back to southern NE around 4pm to intercept. Supercells did not really ever get going, instead a Mesoscale Convective System formed which we watched move over us with 40-50mph winds and heavy rain. The only thing that was exciting about this storm system was the nice shelf cloud that formed along the front edge of the squall line. Otherwise from a storm chasing perspective this was a dissapointing day.
We finally arrived back at the hotel in Lincoln, Nebraksa around 9pm on the 23rd after 24 hours of continous driving and 1240 miles being logged during that 24 period.
Quick outlook for the 24th. Only viable chase opportunity will be through western Illinios. At this point the risk of tornadoes is small, and storms will likely evovle quickly into another MCS. Unsure of whether this will be a chase day, so stay tuned.
More detail to be edited in later - as well as non-weather related chase notes.
2 comments:
I found your blog by chance today... I've been to Norwich before (I spent the night there en route to Holland during a semester of school I spent at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England in 1998), and my brother is a Mississippi State grad. Small world.
Chris,
It was great seeing you out on the Plains. I am sorry we could not find anything better to chase. Have a safe trip home and stay in touch.
Later,
Tim
Post a Comment