7/18/10 Severe Multicells in Southern Michigan
Submitted by L.B. on Sun, 07/18/2010 - 23:20
Chase Stats
SPC Outlook: SLGT
States Driven: MI
Miles: 224
Departure City: Battle Creek, MI
Target City: Grand Rapids, MI
Ending City: Battle Creek, MI
Outcome: Hail (1/8"), Shelf Cloud, Lowering/Downdraft Feature
Chase Pics: Unavailable
This setup did not look spectacular; then again, how often are Michigan setups amazing? Michigan has lately had problems with anvil blow-off, or cloud cover inhibiting surface heating which results in less instability in the atmosphere. We have also had issues with veered flow. Most setups are usually linear with surface winds from the southwest. To create more directional shear, or turning in the atmosphere, it is helpful to have southeast winds-sometimes referred to as backed winds.
Fortunately for us, the models were indicating some backed winds over towards the lakeshore area and northeast of the surface low. Mesoanalysis showed a nice theta-e axis from St. Joseph to Grand Rapids. While the most CAPE was down south, the better helicity, and moisture convergence was further north near the warm front.
Midwest Tornado Outbreak June 5th, 2010 and Battle Creek Tornado Survey
Submitted by L.B. on Sun, 06/13/2010 - 22:17
6/4/10 Michigan Severe Storms
Submitted by L.B. on Sat, 06/05/2010 - 12:51
Chase Stats
SPC Outlook: SLGT
States Driven: MI
Departure City: Battle Creek, MI
Target City: Oshtemo, MI
Ending City: Battle Creek, MI
Outcome: Wall Cloud, Brief Downpours
Chase Pics: Unavailable
Not much to say here. This was your average Michigan chase-well maybe a bit better. We headed out in the afternoon, and drove over by Oshtemo. We sat there for a bit, put some rain-x on the windshield, and ate a quick supper at Culver's. The roasted chicken sandwiches are amazing! Anyways, by that time a few cells started firing over the lake, and I wanted to sit tight a little longer to see if they would mature.
As the cells came on shore, they were still just your basic cells, and nothing that stood out as "interesting" or supercellular. At that time I noticed a nice storm forming north of Hastings. We raced back on I-94 towards Battle Creek, and then headed north on I-69. Near Lansing we could begin to see the base, as well as a decent wall cloud. The wall cloud reformed several times, sometimes more prominent than others.
Insanity in South Dakota on May 22, 2010!
Submitted by L.B. on Tue, 05/25/2010 - 18:05
4/30/10 and 5/1/10 Chase Recap: Arkansas High Risk Bust
Submitted by L.B. on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 16:18
Caprock Magic
Submitted by L.B. on Tue, 04/20/2010 - 23:28Tonight was quite the treat for those who got out to chase a lone supercell just west of Amarillo, TX, in Bushland, TX. SPC had the area highlighted as general thunderstorms, with a "see text" just north of the Texas panhandle. The tornado probabilities were labeled less than 2% across the CONUS. You can view the outlooks for 4/20/10 here. The following is a synopsis of the event, including pictures of the tornado by CTV/DM storm chaser Brandon Green.
We'll begin by taking a look at the surface. As you can see, there is a low over New Mexico, about 100 miles W of Amarillo, TX. The surface obs. in Amarillo were 58/54, which were a little cooler than the surrounding area, but the same dewpoint.
Also below is a visible satellite loop with some added commentary. A boundary is clearly visible on satellite imagery, running primarily in a north-south direction. This boundary can bee seen throughout the entire loop with the exception of the last few frames. While it may not be easily visible at those times, it is clear where it is by looking at storm initiation off this boundary. I have also circled the tornadic supercell in the animation, as well as labeled the time that the tornado was on the ground.
4/6/10 Chase Recap
Submitted by L.B. on Fri, 04/09/2010 - 23:34
Chase Stats
SPC Outlook: SLGT
States Driven: MO, IA, IL
Departure City: St. Joseph, MO
Target City: Osceola, IA
Ending City: Geneseo, IL
Outcome: Hail, Severe Wind, Lowering
Chase Pics: Gallery
This was the second and last chase of Spring Break for me. Unfortunately, I did not see any tornadoes, but it was a little more eventful than the day before. We started out the day in St. Joseph, MO at a Days Inn. Scott Bennett, Ben Holcomb, Adam Lucio, and I headed out around 11, and stopped for lunch at a Rib Crib. After lunch, we headed north towards IA. After looking over some data, and models, I decided the area around Osceola, IA looked decent. We stopped in Osceola, and met up with some other chasers including Skip Talbot, and Randy Cooper. Some of the chasers left after a short while to go intercept storms firing on the warm front. These storms quickly died out after crossing the front.
4/5/10 Chase Recap
Submitted by L.B. on Fri, 04/09/2010 - 16:42
I had been watching these severe weather setups for a week or so, and was hoping they would verify, because they were right during my spring break, and I knew I would be able to get out and chase. The setup looked alright, except all the upper air support from the trough was still west of where the activity was to take place. A strong cap was also in place across much of the area, and the models were not in real good agreement of whether it was going to break or not. Nonetheless, I headed out, because I knew the next day would be promising as well.
There were two primary options on where to target. There was the triple point in extreme north eastern Kansas, or the warm front in north central, Missouri. I was split between the two, and favored more towards Maryville, MO near the triple point, but when I woke up in the morning, the models still had that area badly capped. The SPC had put out a 10% hatched area all along the Iowa, and Missouri border for tornadoes.
