2015 Virtual Storm Chase Thread

[nsrobins]

Sometimes it's hard to explain why a potentially decent set up yields so little, and yet occasional marginal ones can deliver. I think the issue last night was moisture - the LLJ arriving to generate increased shear also pushed some dryer air in at around 800mb effectively pinching the updrafts. Just a theory. Also it was interesting to see how the WF started to retreat N in an 'unforecast' way.

[Paul Sherman]

2 Points ref above.

 

Moisture was NOT a problem with 70f dewpoints east of that lone dryline storm near Elk, what did kill it off was a substantial Cap which got even stronger as the evening wore on.

 

Also there was a massive clue about 45 minutes before the first tornadoes hit in SW Kansas, an MD Was issued stating the Warm Front was moving north faster than was expected and the Tornado watch was pushed North by 3 counties in Southern and SW Kansas, also a look at the Surface obs from 00z and 01z showed very clearly the 60f dewpoints marching northwards, as soon as that storm became discrete it hugged that warm front and turned east, the end was as expected but loads got suckered onto the dryline storm which shrivelled!

[nsrobins]

Discrete cells firing right down the CF now

The cell near Columbia has a fairly deep circulation

 

http://www.chasertv.com/

 

Tom Stolze

Edited April 9, 2015 by nsrobins

[Boro Snow]

Watching david baxter on tvn he says defo tornado on ground which will pass north of davenport 

 

currently watching a lorry on its side where the tornado crossed the high way 

Edited April 9, 2015 by Boro Snow

[Nick F]

Yes, there seemed to be a few factors going against yesterdays supercells realising their full potential, not least, as Paul said, the strong CINH in place, not helped also by the main forcing being too far west, hence why storms formed further north and west than expected into central KS. Also the surface was a bit too 'diffuse' to get storms really going, particularly the boundaries of the warm front and drylines. Crapvection earlier in the day and high cloud didn't help either by limiting surface heating despite favourable moisture.

Still there was some brief rope and elephant trunk nadoes, but full potential of the set-up wasn't realised. Goes to show, despite the SPC's best efforts, their forecasts don't always go to plan, so its often down to the chaser to use or gain experience by now casting with current obs.

[toggerob]

Paul Goddard, large wedge tornado, Rockford,IL

 

Edited April 10, 2015 by SNOW_JOKE

[Allseasons-Si]

Paul Goddard, large wedge tornado, Rockford,IL

beat me to it lol

 

heres a screen grab of it

 

 

Base hunters is on it too

 

Edited April 10, 2015 by Allseasons-si

[Nick L]

Some really serious damage being reported from this.

[Nick L]

 

Blimey.

[Dorsetbred]

Based on last night's report, we have a possible count of 8 T's.

Largest hail reported:

4.5"

0038 450 PORTIA LAWRENCE AR 3609 9107

Edited April 10, 2015 by Dorsetbred

[Nick F]

A few videos of the wedge in Rochelle, Illinois:

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=840970689315679

 

Nice couplet going on before the tornado warned storm hit Rochelle:

 

[Arron]

She was a beauty!

Edited April 10, 2015 by Arron

[the storm fisherman]

A few more like that during the chase season and it will be great year  considering the late start

[NL]

A very close encounter with the 'Rochelle' Illinois tornado. The driver of the truck remains extremely composed considering a violent wedge tornado is about to wreck everything in its path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGmJCB0x21s

Edited April 11, 2015 by NL

[Nick L]

A very close encounter with the 'Rochelle' Illinois tornado. The driver of the truck remains extremely composed considering a violent wedge tornado is about to wreck everything in its path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGmJCB0x21s

 

Apparently had a kid in the car too. Unbelievable stupidity.

[Dorsetbred]

A very close encounter with the 'Rochelle' Illinois tornado. The driver of the truck remains extremely composed considering a violent wedge tornado is about to wreck everything in its path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGmJCB0x21s

Talk about dumb, this is a classic case of giving storm chasers a bad reputation. I suppose as this one missed him, he'll go out again and get closer next time and next time until...

Sorry for the rant but this is classic bad reputation generation stuff.

[NL]

Talk about dumb, this is a classic case of giving storm chasers a bad reputation. I suppose as this one missed him, he'll go out again and get closer next time and next time until...

Sorry for the rant but this is classic bad reputation generation stuff.

Although I agree its a dumb move as I'm sure he would have seen the tornado way before he was that close but this guy is not a chaser he was on his way to Indianapolis on a business meeting and has never experienced weather like this.

[PolarWarsaw]

Crazy. 

 

Prelim reports say it was an EF4...lasting 28 or so miles. 

 

Impressive for a 'modest'-ish setup.

[Nick L]

Although I agree its a dumb move as I'm sure he would have seen the tornado way before he was that close but this guy is not a chaser he was on his way to Indianapolis on a business meeting and has never experienced weather like this.

 

Even so, I'm pretty sure most people would have realised that just sitting there under a bridge wasn't a smart move. Would have been a Darwin award candidate for sure.

[Allseasons-Si]

Tornado warning north of Amarillo,VortexWx is in a sweet spot with some rotation.

 

https://tvnweather.com/live/

 

strong rotation on that cell now.

Edited April 11, 2015 by Allseasons-si

[Allseasons-Si]

VortexWx having to go south into Amarillo to go north as there is no east road to take,must be frustrating that,will they take the 136 or 60,personally i would take the 60 to Panhandle,more options there.

 

the Leeper brothers are heading south down the 207 so they may encounter something perhaps.

 

check out those hailstones on Kevin Saunders cam.

Edited April 12, 2015 by Allseasons-si

[Allseasons-Si]

Steve worthington on a tornado warning cell SE of Lamar.

[Dorsetbred]

Yesterday provided just a single T report in KS.

Largest hail reported 2.75":

2257 275 6 S COLUMBUS BUTLER NE 4135 9736 CLEAR LAKE

Edited April 13, 2015 by Dorsetbred

[nsrobins]

Evening virtual chasers

Some signals for a discrete supercell or two in the notch below the trailing front across C Texas this evening. Sufficient pockets of instability in 21C dps could do the trick and directional shear in abundance.

I'm doing some preliminary prep for a potential chase mid-May if an active set-up develops. Excited isn't the word!

[Paul Sherman]

Good luck Neil

 

Good for us, because if you end up going Mid May it means it will be active, so lets hope for some decent May Chasing!