2018--day 7
Monday, 28 May 2018
The day started in Fort Morgan, CO, and it seems that eastern Colorado will be where the action is. We started south for Limon and launched a sounding when we arrived. The dark blue jackets did raise the curiosity of one family, who thought we were FBI.
As it turned out, after driving around in what turned out to be a big loop (ironic, as we're in search of little loops) around eastern Colorado, we wound up in the right place at the right time, as we managed to capture these guys, some of which were on the ground for about a half hour. These were near Cope, Colorado. At one point in time there were three on the ground at once, but sadly I don't have pictures of that. At least one of these is anticyclonic (rotating clockwise), meaning that in all likelihood these were landspouts. By Rochette's law, they're still tornadoes.
One of the major rules of storm chasing is that one should never core punch (i.e., drive under the most dangerous part of the storm, often where hail is falling). We didn't, but at one point we had to stop and wait for the storm to go by us (i.e., we were nearly core-punched). Wound up getting hailed upon, but fortunately no damage, as it was pretty small. Still sounded like being inside Neil Peart's snare drum during one of his solos.
Heading east for the night, we stopped in Burlington, CO to capture some more sunset shots (including some anticrepuscular rays--look it up).
Continuing east required yet more stops along I70, as we captured some amazing double shelf clouds west of Goodland, KS. As imposing as they look, they indicate thunderstorm outflow, which implies straight-line winds (no tornadoes, usually). Still...
After a surprisingly good meal at a place famous for steakburgers (and cheese fries--what a country), we had to wait it out while the metal roof of the building got pelted with pea-size hail (core-punched yet again).
We finally landed for the night in Colby, KS, a town that apparently wants you to visit, given all the billboards advertising the place. Final tally: 451 miles, three tornadoes (15 lifetime total). Not a bad day's work.
The day started in Fort Morgan, CO, and it seems that eastern Colorado will be where the action is. We started south for Limon and launched a sounding when we arrived. The dark blue jackets did raise the curiosity of one family, who thought we were FBI.
As it turned out, after driving around in what turned out to be a big loop (ironic, as we're in search of little loops) around eastern Colorado, we wound up in the right place at the right time, as we managed to capture these guys, some of which were on the ground for about a half hour. These were near Cope, Colorado. At one point in time there were three on the ground at once, but sadly I don't have pictures of that. At least one of these is anticyclonic (rotating clockwise), meaning that in all likelihood these were landspouts. By Rochette's law, they're still tornadoes.
One of the major rules of storm chasing is that one should never core punch (i.e., drive under the most dangerous part of the storm, often where hail is falling). We didn't, but at one point we had to stop and wait for the storm to go by us (i.e., we were nearly core-punched). Wound up getting hailed upon, but fortunately no damage, as it was pretty small. Still sounded like being inside Neil Peart's snare drum during one of his solos.
Heading east for the night, we stopped in Burlington, CO to capture some more sunset shots (including some anticrepuscular rays--look it up).
Continuing east required yet more stops along I70, as we captured some amazing double shelf clouds west of Goodland, KS. As imposing as they look, they indicate thunderstorm outflow, which implies straight-line winds (no tornadoes, usually). Still...
After a surprisingly good meal at a place famous for steakburgers (and cheese fries--what a country), we had to wait it out while the metal roof of the building got pelted with pea-size hail (core-punched yet again).
We finally landed for the night in Colby, KS, a town that apparently wants you to visit, given all the billboards advertising the place. Final tally: 451 miles, three tornadoes (15 lifetime total). Not a bad day's work.
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