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5-25-08
Sunday was THE setup a Quad Cities' chaser dreams of. They come a dime a dozen on the high plains, but for the given dynamics for severe weather today were off the charts. We left the QC around 10:30 and headed for the New Hampton, IA area as a primary target. We hopped on 380 to Waterloo and then on to 63, where later the 2nd ever EF-5 would pass through. We stopped at a Super 8 in New Hampton which served as an excellent wi-fi source last year, but for some dang reason they secured their router. So, back on to 63. We were getting very hungry so we ended up hitting the next town called Cresco. We found another Super 8 there which conveniently had great internet access and a Pizza Hut right next door. After pulling data, this is what we learned....
.
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 359
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
205 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
PARTS OF NORTHERN IOWA
MUCH OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
MUCH OF WESTERN WISCONSIN
EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 205 PM UNTIL 900
PM CDT.
...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...
DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER...
THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE
POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 85 STATUTE
MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF
FAIRMONT MINNESOTA TO 50 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF LA CROSSE
WISCONSIN. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9)....
DISCUSSION...RAPIDLY DESTABILIZATION AIR MASS AHEAD OF COLD FRONT
ALONG WITH STRONG MID/UPPER JET PROVIDING PARAMETERS FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. THE E/W BOUNDARY FROM EARLIER CONVECTION
WILL ENHANCE SHEAR PROFILES AND TORNADIC SUPERCELL POTENTIAL. THERE
IS THE THREAT FOR LONG LIVED SUPERCELLS TO DEVELOP WITH ASSOCIATED
STRONG TORNADOES.
So naturally we were flying high about now. CAPE was around 3500 jk/g, LI's were around -10, dewpoints were soaring into the upper 60's/lower 70's, helicity was phenomenal, and the clouds were just starting to break. We were very, VERY confident at this point. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, we shot back west, not yet really knowing where to stop, just wanted to play the southern end of the PDS watch. On our way west, a brand new tornado warning came over the weather radio on a cell just to our southwest...about 20 miles or so. Things were looking VERY good as far as grabbing a tornado went. As we neared, we could start to see the enormous anvil canopy accompanying the storm. Even closer, I was sort of in awe at the structure of this beast. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop to get any pictures as were were pretty much racing it to get to the southern side. After punching through the forward flank, we came to rest on a little farmer's field entrance where a few other spotters were also camped out. From this standpoint, we really couldn't see much.
We heard a report of a previous tornado and a rapidly rotating wall cloud, but we really couldn't see much. We found another road that ran east to get a bit closer to it. As we neared, the storm started to look VERY impressive. A nice, broad rain-free base was now visible with some very impressive inflow. Low-level clouds were screaming into this beast. We thought for sure it was going to go.
Rotation was now clearly visible. Oh, and I am really sucking at photography lately. I just CANNOT seem to nail exposures anymore. It never used to be an issue, but for some reason now I just can't pull it off. I was VERY, VERY disappointed with most of these pictures. That area to the left is just completely blown out, obviously. I need to stick with it to keep sharp.
Right about this time RFD started to blast in and a brief, rapidly rotating, disorganized wall cloud started to form right out in the field parallel to the truck. I didn't think it was a good idea to sit right THERE, so we hopped in and backed up a ways.
Right about here, we suddenly felt the winds change direction and come straight back at us. Outflow. The storm was now dying.
As quick as it had apparently prepared to drop another tornado, it was choked off by the Parkersburg cell to the southeast.
Looking east. We actually saw a very brief white funnel off in this direction (not in the shot), but we couldn't get the video camera on it nor the still camera, so it's no big deal.
After watching our extremely potential tornado go to crap, we left and shot back to the north (can't remember which road now) sort of scrambling to get on something else. Looking back over our shoulders, we saw another pretty impressive cell going up to pretty much where we had just left. So, we head back...again. We were now aware of the Parkersburg tornado...and we were only 25 miles from it.
Another pretty impressive rain-free base. This thing also had potential with some decent inflow.
We took off again just for a few minutes, but not knowing what to do once again, we pulled off again in hopes this thing would do something.
Once again, exposure SUCKS. I'm not sure what's happening with me. This is just HORRIBLE. These pictures just make me want to take my camera and throw it in the trash, honestly.
Looking back east at a newly developed core.
After realizing our storm wouldn't do anything, we decided as a last ditch effort to blast eastward toward a tornado warned cell near Greeley. On the way, we saw this atomic bomb of an updraft.
Later on in the night. An outflow boundary was just to my north and I thought I saw another gustnado (pretty damn sure, actually), but my pictures suck and I can't make out anything anyway, so I didn't bother with it. I tried hand holding it so it came out very blurry. Besides, last time I didn't have enough evidence to prove the movement anyway, so what's the use.
My first lightning shot. Yay. I think finding a needle in a haystack is easier than finding my first "bolt" of 2008.
From pictures and video, the Parkersburg EF-5 was a very dangerous rain-wrapped wedge, so we really wouldn't have been able to see anything anyway, but it was still sort of disappointing knowing we were relatively close to a monster wedge tornado and we were watching storms go to crap just to its north. But, after learning of the deaths that occurred from the tornado, I can't (won't) say anything else about being disappointed. At the time, we were unaware that it had destroyed a town. As storm chasers, a major part of our "job" is to relay information so the general public can be aware of the weather situations as soon as possible. It sounds to me like this storm did have plenty of warning, but with an EF-5, sometimes there really isn't much you can do to avoid the risk of being severely injured or even killed. I really feel for the victims and their families. Natural disasters are truly devastating, but we need to understand the relentless power of mother nature.
Here are some NWS survey pics. In some, you clearly see why the EF-5 rating was given. Some of the houses are completely wiped off of their foundations, not even a sign that a house was ever there. Incredible. http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cases/080525/dmx_parkersburg_damage/
Radar grab of the wedge passing
through Parkersburg. At this point it was 3/4 mile wide. At its widest
point, it was 1.2 miles.
After this chase, it's clear that I am going to be forced to buying an air card. The extra payment is going to suck, but chasing without radar returns is starting to get very old. Too bad the best part of the chase season is about over.
After this chase, it's clear that I am going to be forced to buying an air card. The extra payment is going to suck, but chasing without radar returns is starting to get very old. Too bad the best part of the chase season is about over.