2015--Day 14

A loud night last night, with all the rain and thunder.  3" of rain in 13 hours, altogether.  Today we kinda start our mosey back east, but the conditions are actually fairly decent for severe weather to break out across southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa (a new state for this trip).  After briefing we're headed for Nebraska City.

Gassing up near the hotel complexes (there were several in our cluster), we noticed a store between the gas station and the hotels that sold lingerie and 'novelties.'  Very convenient: gas, food, lodging, and allied accessories.  Putting the 'ho' in hotels, I guess.

Our route is taking us through downtown Lincoln and the surrounding residential areas.  Seems pleasant.  Curious about the Germans from Russia museum--next time I'm back in Lincoln with nothing to do.  Something to think about: Poland evolved from Prussia.  When I was growing up, there were tons of Polish jokes.  I wonder if there were lots of Prussian jokes before World War II.

One of the ads on the radio was for some gas station (or some such), and had the phrase "Ethanol is American."  Personally, I think there's one too many syllables in that last word, and it could be pronounced with a short u sound, like in 'fur.'  We are DEFINITELY in the Corn Belt. 

We're headed south from Nebraska City toward Auburn, as the clouds are breaking up in this region.  Auburn also affords an option to get across the Missouri River.  While looking at the map, it would appear that there's a small piece of what I assumed was Missouri across the river that belongs to Nebraska.  I'm guessing Missouri lost it in a poker game between the governors of the two states.

We've decided to stay on the west side of the river, as storms are starting to fire to our south and west.  Unfortunately, the local terrain is rolling and there are numerous instances of coniferous and deciduous interruptus.

Around 2:30 local we followed some storms east of Beatrice that looked interesting, but like so many before it didn't produce much more than a wall cloud.

During the course of today both chase vehicles got stuck in the mud, not surprising after all of the rain.  Nothing too serious, and we were both able to get out, but it could have been a much dicier proposition.  During the first time one drive wheel was caught on a muddy shoulder (we were able to nudge them out with the van), and the second time both of our wheels were stuck in a muddy driveway.  Several students had to get out and push.  I do NOT like dirt roads.

If I ever start a storm chaser tour company, I'm going to call it Opposite Way Tours.  Our slogan will be, 'If you see us coming, go the opposite way.'

Crossed the border into northeastern Kansas.  Saw a 'scud bomb' that looked an awful lot like a funnel cloud.  After waiting for something to form, we reversed and headed north back into southeastern Nebraska.  Some individual storms have evolved into a line that extends into northwestern Missouri.  Back in Falls City, NE, I took a shot of a closeup wall/mustache cloud.

We crossed the river into northwestern Missouri, watching for interesting storms.  We stopped and watched an interesting storm near Forest City that once again did nothing.  The cicadas provided a soundtrack.

We continued to chase around northwestern Missouri, through a nasty HP supercell that did have rotation.  Was rather tense for a few minutes (after all, that's what happens when you drive through hurricanes), but we made it.  Heading for I35, we stopped in Pattonsburg for gas and other things, we once again got rolled over by a cell.  First it got very windy, and then the monsoon rains came.  I was in the van when the wind hit, but others were not so lucky.

Random thought: I HATE HP SUPERCELLS.  I HATE DRIVING THROUGH HP SUPERCELLS EVEN MORE.

Important chaser tip: avoid chasing in northwestern Missouri.  Treat it like heroin: just don't do it.

We drove north on I35 toward Iowa, stopping in Bethany for dinner.  On the road north, we were rewarded for our troubles with a beautiful sunset and a piece of a rainbow on the opposite side of the sky.  While looking east there was some fantastic lightning right near the rainbow.  No pictures, sadly.

Our final destination is one of the Quad Cities: Davenport, Iowa.  Going to be a late arrival, and likely an early departure.  Sadly, there are still cells to drive through, but hopefully nothing too heavy.

Another random thought: why was there no Bass Guitar Hero?

Coming into Davenport, we drove by the World's Largest Truck Stop.  It looked huge, and we're all pretty tired, so I'm inclined to take their word for it.

Four states, 633 miles, a monsoon's worth of wind and rain, some wall clouds--again, and no tornadoes--again.  It's been a pretty great chase all around, but it's coming to an end soon, and that's probably a good thing.