Biiiiiiig Supercell, Kansas

Made our way up towards SE Kansas from SW Oklahoma yesterday - storms were forecast to fire on upslope lift with a SE'ly surface flow up the western side of Kansas and in to Colorado, with a shortwave trough coming in during the evening to spark things up nicely.

We set off from Durant, Oklahoma at about 8:30 and made our way towards the OK Panhandle/Kansas Border. As it got to the afternoon, we could see this beast in the distance over Kansas:

Initialy we were thinking this was too far and storms would fire closer to us, but the more we waved it goodbye, the more severe and tempting it was looking, so we went for it-

Getting closer and it had great structure, with mamatus bulging out of the south anvil, and what looked like meso's wraping round its southern flank-

Once we got underneath the cell it was unbelievable - Inflow ripping into the storm above our heads in structured, smoothe bands -

We got right underneath and started inching our way forwards with lightning all around us and lowerings dropping down with signs of rotation (See Neil + Ben's blogs for video at this point - I was too busy watching our right side for escape routes and anything dropping!). As we made our way slowly East following the meso just to our left, the lightning was getting incredible - spidering around above us - we also had a fantastic display of anvil zits -

How about this for a hailstone... the cell was dropping 3 inch stuff at one point acording to the radar -

After this point it started to get dark and the storm got rain wrapped with a big wall of intense lightning, hail and lowerings coming towards us - we decided to atempt to dive south as light was fading and found ourselves eventualy on a dirt track with what looked like a huge wedge shaped lowering coming across the fields behind us, backlit by lightning.

Eventualy got in front of the storm, and booked into a Motel in Pratt, Kansas to watch it go over - luckily it had weakened a bit so we were spared the dents on the rental car.

anyway - must dash - im late for our morning meet once again. Its bens birthday today! - I'll sing happy birthday all day to the point of annoyance, dont worry. A gentle reposition way east today for tomorrows action, and hopefuly another terdnado ..

Thats it for now - check out Ben + Neil' blog for lightning video etc from last night - never seen anything like it - these are seriousely dangerous storms out here!

Bye for now

Sam

Howdy all...

Not so many updates recently - its been hectic out here...

Yesterday - First chase, first storm intercepted, and a tornado dropped down less than a mile up the road in front of us with a tube reaching up into the sky - something I'll never forget. (see Neil + Ben's blogs for Pics etc) - I'll post more on this later on - we also had a spin up next to us on the road after we'd piled in the van and got out of there (we had to think safe on this as it was coming towards us and we needed exits!).

Got a beutiful LP Supercell that formed on the dryline earlier thisafternoon - managed to get just south of it, book 3 rooms in a best western in Plainview, TX, and video it moving across just to our north (we were bang on the money forecasting wise it seems)

Here's the LP Supercell:

The Meso's on the left, the Anvil streaming off to the right. This had a wall cloud with some serious rotation ...

Inflow into the storm ..

Panorama ..

There was also a HP Supercell to our south at the same time - the outflow of this eventualy swamped the Meso + Wallcloud of the LP destroying any chance of a Tornado - check out the view we had - superb ...

We're sat in Neils room right now - about an hour ago we had constant lightning from a line of supercells that came out of New Mexico - I've never seen anything like it - I'll post some vids when we go through them. We made all the right moves again today, and if you love storms like we do, its been a superb day ...

Heading off early tomorrow to get to Oaklahoma for a shot at some tornadic supercells that will be heading east. I'll post more tomorrow, and update with pics of yesterdays pant filling tornado event.

Adios good people!

Sam

Here come the storms

Hi all
Real quick update - we're hitting the road in a second

Currently sat at the famous armarillo Big Texan steak ranch with a huge hangover and a vast of coffee.

Classic brush with the Texas police yesterday as I was caught speeding! - got ticked off by a good old texas boy - he must like the English.... see Neils blog for an Alan Partridge style video of our encounter...

The first couple of days have been quiet weather wise - probably a good thing as we've been able to get all the gear working and ease ourselves into things. All change today as some big storms are kicking off from here northwards - huge hail & flooding rain - tornado chances we'll see a little later -

We're heading off now towards S-Kansas to get positioned, then we'll follow them up across Kansas east (depending on how things pan out) and hopefully position ourselves tonight for a bit of a light show by the pool, with copious amounts of beer (yet another headache!)

Right - off we go - cross all extremities! Pics to follow shortly...

Sam

9 Days to go!

A quick update - I'll try and keep these brief before we get out there. Although its a fair while off, the models are looking good when we arive and following days - an energetic jet stream making its way round the planet to join us, which looks like setting up a trough over the rockies and low pressure systems pushing up across the plains - I think a small part of my brain, even more primitave than the rest was hoping we'd bust right out and just eat steak for 10 days in the sun, but its looking like its going to be wild out there.

I've got my rubber pants. Bring it on!


Pleased to introduce Neil & Ben :-

Neil's Blog: http://neilweather.blogspot.com/
Ben's Blog: http://benstormchase.blogspot.com/

Thats it for now, Sam

My new Blog!

Hi everyone (Anyone ???)

Just a quick entry to kick off my Blog.

3 weeks to go until we head off to Tornado Alley! Arriving in Dallas, Texas on May 3rd, picking up our chase vehicle, and heading out for 10 days across the plains of the US, chasing the worlds most towering, deadly storms. I'll be heading out with 2 other chasers from the UK, Neil Robinson & Ben Howard, all of us being members of the weather forum www.theweatheroutlook.com

We'll have on the road Internet Access which will be wifi enabled, allowing us to check the latest conditions/forecast/other chasers positions, onboard GPS, laptops, camera + camcorders and mobiles etc.

Each day I'll post up an account with pictures, and any video we take - I'll split each post into 2 - one entry for the meteorological breakdown of the day, and another for those of you who aren't too interested in the dynamics of the weather, but want a brief description and some cool photos.. (how could you!)

Well, thats it for now - this is the trip of a lifetime for me. Infact make that 3. Wish me luck!

Sam