Topic: May 25 - 29, 2007 - Tornado Alley

[Macca]

Hi all,

Currently in Goodland, KS watching towering Cu go up and down like popcorn in a microwave. Given a little more heating and some more lower level convergence, these should develop into storms in the next hour or so. Low level shear isn't too bad with 850mb winds of 20-25knts from the south/south east and the mid levels are around 30-35knts from the W so an isolated severe storm isn't out of the question. Instability is a little on the light side thanks to relatively cool surface temps (mid 70's) and relatively low DP's (mid 50's) but CAPE is still around 1500-2000j/kg and the LI's are around -4 to -5 currently.

Once again, we'll play the watching and waiting game to see what develops over the next hour.

The next two or three days look like some slight risk potential for supercells and with more upper level support progged for Monday & Tuesday, we could seethe chance of a tornado or two as well.

Macca & Chris

[Macca]

http://macca.bsch.au.com/gallery/20070525

[nzstorm]

Yes, the NZ team targeted the Colby area today and had an easy chase with the magnificiently structured HP storm developing nearby.
NW Kansas and Colorado seem to have a habit of rewarding the chasers who are loyal to this region. Second best storm chase day we have had since arriving in the US on the 12th.  Some of the NZ team head home today.

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi guys,

Fancy suggesting the region and not chasing it - had to drop off guys at OKC. I was hoping Macca and Chris were in that area! Rewards which makes me ALMOST as happy as being there. Macca and Chris are rubbing it in:)

We were able to do a little survey of Greensburg tornado damage - 306 photos later - it was time to go. I felt I had to return given this was a storm we chased and the way we felt on the night. I knew what the town looked like - now it is obliterated like a bomb had gone off. Just the massive scale of desctruction and the fact 3 weeks has gone by - we did not expect that much of the damage still remained. I know this is a case from media talk, but it will take years to recover. Thanks to Macca for talking to one of the locals - basically allowing for us to do this survey.

Photographs included below:

Visit one of the farmers who lost their house and barns.

car severely damaged


piece of wood speared through headrest


dead fish on the ground


Greensburg damage

Note the "F" likely stands for fatality and we noted 3 fatality sites in 4 consecutive houses


For all pictures:

http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2007/jd20070524.html

http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2007/jd20070525.html

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi,

It is tragic that Michael Thompson has had to cut short his trip - particularly when you have been planned to do this for so many years - awaiting a strong Aussie dollar year.

But yes, certainly he should look back especially in regards to his tornado near Hill City - the structure and tornado one can rarely beat. That in itself makes this trip worth it for anyone.

Macca's pictures from the east has a beaver tail and contrast that resembles the June 2nd 2005 event:

 

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Macca]

Hi all,

Currently in Wray, Colorado (about 55mi N of where we started).  Storms have just developed on the intersection of the frontal boundary and the lee trough (as expected) about 10mi to our SW.  Meso analysis shows CAPE's already hitting 3000j/kg and LI's of -6 to -7 in the area where the storms are.  DP's are pushing into the low 60's atm (17C).  We'll probably only have a few hours to play with storms today before it gets a little cluttered.

Macca & Chris & Jimmy & Brad

[nmoir]

Storm east of Limon seems to be building south west towards a squall line  heading east. Loved the beaver tail storm guys , awesome.

[Jimmy Deguara]

There was a reasonable confidence that the 29th May could yield something special in Colorado - structured supercells and even tornadoes. A tornado watchbox was issued and later issued further south. Unfortunately, the storms once developed, although tornado warned eventually became outflow dominant.

Here are some images from this day beginning near Limon and eventually down near Lamar:

 


We had fun with strong winds, hailstones, swirling dust and also tumbleweeds! The last picture represents a storm further south that initially took on a severe structure and hinting rapid intensification - though the cold northerly outflow simply undercut any chance of that.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Fryz]

Hello Australian stormchasers

hello Jimmy and Brad
it was a funny and very pleasant instant to meet you in Murdo

i'm the frenchy with Dean GILL french/swiss team (4peoples)
do you remember our second encounter in the road (south of Limon the 29 may?

this day just one good storm near Lamar:


our position:


see you soon les amis de l'autre bout du monde
Vincent ("fryz")

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi Fryz,

We remember you - a lot of fun on those storms - unfortunately the storms became outflow dominant

Just a little caution: please be careful when overtaking semi-trucks:) Also I am not sure if you recongised the cop, but we pulled aside and the cop stopped near us - so i guess it saved you guys.

How did you go on the 31st May event? I know you guys were flying out on the 1st June?

Can you post images of the supercell you got on the 28th in South Dakota when we let you go and went south?

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara