Reports & Pictures Day 9 - Gila Bend And Aja

[Paul Sherman]

Finally we had storms worthy of the Arizona Monsoon today. SW Arizona was showing SB Cape to 3,500jkg and an approaching Short Wave Trough, SPC Whacked up a See Text risk and promptly took it down meaning we were nailed on for some action. We had lunch in Casa Grande and then went west and South across Border Patrol into the no mans land of Aja and the town called Why! A developing storm with it's own little haboob went up along the road about 3 miles in front of us. A US Border Control Cop came upto us and asked what we were doing and was quite happy with us snapping away.

More storms started to form along an outflow boundary to our Storms North and it was at this point that I knew we would have both night time action with lightning and also the possibility of a bigger haboob as the storms moved over the desert and sand.

Just north of Aja we watched a lovely Gustnado on the edge of a storm to our east along the gust front, this was violently spinning at around 40mph at times.

The obligatory east facing Rainbow viewed from just south of Gila Bend.

Storms had now formed into a nice line so we got a nice position and watched them roll towards us as Sunset began to drawer near.

- Twilight Cg Shot.

I then positioned us further west along Interstate 8 and found a great vantage point facing south with a storm going rapidly severe, this would throw out the expected Haboob as we were shooting Cg lightning.

A great days chasing the Arizona Monsoon.

[lewisosd]

Amazing day and saw everything I wanted to see from the monsoon season all in one day

Typical monsoon storm

Storms starting to fire off on the outflow boundary

A short lived funnel cloud spotted by the group

Lenticular cloud

Gustnado

CG's and anvil crawlers plus a haboob!

[duckeyh]

It's late but here is my best (and favourite) shot I think I may have ever taken Thank you AZ for playing the game

More to follow .......ok just one more for tonight!

tooo excited not to post more! A similar one to Lewis from a different perspective

2 possibly 3 funnel clouds from our final storm of the day !

Edited August 31, 2012 by duckeyh

[IanM]

A tour in a day!? Stunning stuff, it almost makes flying home from Portgual to frosty GB worthwhile

[Dorsetbred]

Clare, congrats on the first shot that is stunning.

Clearly the Hordle shield completely died yesterday, so you can talk to me again now.

You can tell Sherminator, I had a word with the "Big Man" to make it come good for the last day for you.

And.......it seemed to have worked, oh well that's one I owe him

Edited August 31, 2012 by Dorsetbred

[craig1uk]

I've been looking forward to seeing these all day, that is one excellent days monsoon chasing right there !!!! Brilliant photography all round, I'm sure Mr Powell's are top notch as well.

I'm so glad you got such a good day in on the tour (and extremely jealous)

Great stuff

Craig

[Nick F]

Glad you have been finally rewarded with some of the best the AZ monsoon can deliver, Great photos to cherish, seen some of Dave's stunning photos on FB too, but been blown away (excuse the pun) by all your quality photography.

SPC have a 'See Text' out for tomorrow, hope it doesn't curse the day!

...AZ...

TSTMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE A BIT MORE PREVALENT ON SATURDAY AS

MOISTURE GRADUALLY INCREASES INTO PARTS OF AZ/LOWER CO RIVER VALLEY

OVER THE NEXT 24-48 HR. THIS INCREASE IN MOISTURE COUPLED WITH A

MODESTLY ENHANCED BELT OF SOUTH-SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT MAY ALLOW

FOR A FEW SUSTAINED/STRONGER TSTMS CAPABLE OF WIND AND/OR MARGINAL

HAIL.

http://www.spc.noaa....k/day2otlk.html

[Paul Sherman]

Hope it does curse the day Nick as we will be firmly stuck at the Airport - Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Today is the last day of the 2012 Arizona Chase, looks like we might have some delays to contend with tomorrow if Haboobs get going again!

[duckeyh]

Clare, congrats on the first shot that is stunning.

Clearly the Hordle shield completely died yesterday, so you can talk to me again now.

You can tell Sherminator, I had a word with the "Big Man" to make it come good for the last day for you.

And.......it seemed to have worked, oh well that's one I owe him

Thanks Quentin, it was a long time due!