Storm Chase Log 10 May 2005

[Guest ChaserUK]

OK we should have a lot more to bring you today with a classic setup for today and tomorrow in Nebraska - very classic setup possible. Target for today is Omaha so we do have a bit of a drive but expect to get there around 2 this afternoon.

Watch this space!! B)

[Matt B]

Best of luck for today then fellas. look forward to your report and hopefully pictures.

[Paul Sherman]

Hi Everyone, As Matt says today is looking very good, in fact from Today until Sunday looks very favourable at present although the synoptics will probably change. There are now 2 areas for today the 1st is Central Nebraska which is our target area, about a 5 hour drive, the 2nd is the Ok Panhandle which now has a risk area from the SPC. Today is looking very promising and it's my 1st day of driving, so let's hope the driving on the other side of the road is nice to me!!!

Paul Sherman

[kold weather]

Hi Paul,yeah i think Nebraska is a solid target to go for,some high levels off cape(upto 4500 being forecasted by ETA)also worth noting some high levels off Helicity near the borders of South dakota in the next few hours,upwards off 550 is avaible and more then enough to get a hose going.A impressive plume coming up from the gulf with low pressure a few hundred miles west.Dew points expected to reach about 70F in the next few hours with temps probably getting into the high 80's.

Not a awful lot gonig on at present altohugh there are some cells in south Dakota at present,not that strong mind and not going to do alot,still saying that it is still pretty early in the convective day for those in that region:

a small note on tommorow's convective possiblties.cape is not as impressive as todaybut my does it make up for it in Helicity,with it reaching 1228 in response to the area off low pressure pushing closer,worth watching,it does have potenial to be the best day yet off actvity if it all comes off correctly.

[Guest ChaserUK]

We have been CHASED and CHASING a monster Tornadic Supercell/ two Supercells that started over Grand Island, NE. The first storm we headed to, initially the main storm, had 6 meso's on it. The lightning was out of this world. County after county got torn warned - we did get a little too close and ended up being chased in darkness for about 2 hours. Ended up in Wahoo, NE, just SE of Omaha. Just waiting for the initial supercell to catch up with us here - good thing we have wifi here!

To be honest today's/ nights chase has been the scariest ever. A couple of times we saw a funnel backlit by lightning. The storm was just out of this world with the best inflow/outflow boundaries set up. Anyway, just waiting for another storm to arrive here.

[Paul Sherman]

Well What Can I say about today!!!!

We started in Joplin and headed 5 hours North West to be in the target area of Omaha (Nebraska) Waited around until 6pm and things were not looking that good, Temps has initially hit 94f (Phew) and the air was primed. All of a sudden towers started to go up we were watching a cell to our east for about an hour which was heading towards Missouri (Bad Chase Country) and this storm became a Supercell ( My 1st Ever) Pictures to follow, but our attention was fixed to a monster Supercell forming over Grand Island (Nebraska) now this Supercell was moving towards us so we drive straight towards it

As we got close at about 8Pm the Lightning was amazing, the inflow was scary as the rotation looked to be above our heads, the light was fading which was not great as a Tornado had just been confirmed 20 miles to our South West moving east straight towards us. We got stopped by the Fire Service and Police and told to head east straight away as the tornado was to our South and heading east at 30mph. Now it was our turn to be Chased :lol: :lol: As we headed east again we outrun the storm which was now a monster Supercell. We briefly stopped to film and saw at least 2 funnels back lit by continous Lightning. (My 1st Tornado) Straight line winds were now visibly moving us across the road and the Lightning was like nothing i have ever seen b4. Lots of footage on Video camera. We have now retreated to Wahoo (South WEST of Omaha) and taking refuge from the storms, the Supercell is heading towards us still and we have a Tornado warning until 1am, A long night is in store.

So to sum it up today was the scariest chase Matt has ever been on and the inflow winds being sucked in by the Supercell was hard to describe at times. Currently hail stones and severe lightning hitting our location.

Paul Sherman

[Guest ChaserUK]

Some pics but non very dramatic I am afraid as nightime was a problem. The first shows our approach to the storm down the eastern flank. Our position is noted by the cursor over the white car shape - the GPS works very very well. Note the meso's directly ahead! At this time NWS radio reported tornados and baron's highlighted the affected counties in red. The second pic shows a very defined hook echo - luckily we were 20 miles NE by this time - not the best place to be and it took 1 - 2 hours hard driving to manage that! We kept an eye out the back window only to see 2 funnel clouds and a possible tornado back lit by lightning!

[Kent Snow]

Very interesting chase log again.

I can only imagine the adrenaline rush as a Tornando was said to be heading in your direction. My heart started beating fast just by read Paul's report.

Hope you've some cool photos.

[Anti-Mild]

Exciting read, although it really does highlight how dangerous a chase can be, but at least you know what you're doing. Good luck for the rest of the tour.

[Adi F]

Glad you guys have had a great day let’s hope you have plenty more.

I know you are very busy but come on lets have some pic’s posted up.

[*Stormforce~beka*]

Eek how scary - Says she who is both amazed beyond belief and also wants to see a live hurricane one day ... Ah will my nerves stand it :-O

[Andy Bown]

Thought you were meant to be doing the chasing :lol:

I await the pics

[kold weather]

sounds quite scary matt and Paul,wouldn't have wanted to be there at that time,sounds like a scene right out off twister actually!

still going to have to wait a few more hours before convection really kicks off in the main danger area,which I'd probably say is close to Kansas/Nebraska,where although cape isn't amazing(only about 1000 tops)there is a heck off alot off helicity coupled with that due to the approhing low pressure system to the west although he cape is evn more impressive however helicity is greatly lacking and some fairly strong CinH is also in place there.

Still there are some decent cells about,although once again they are in the main a little messy,although the cells just to the south off the main batch looks a little more impressive and are close to the highest risk zone off mine:

[The PIT]

Sounds Fun. Don't get too close though will you.

Looking forward to the pics.

[SteveB]

Sounds fantastic stuff, looking forward to the pics

[Paul R]

Very exciting to read. Can't wait to see the pictures.

[Arrows]

Sounds great. I'm going on my first chase next year in May. Can't wait