Day two of the multi-day chase...We woke up in Wichita to a very messing picture, with areas of storms ongoing from Texas up into Nebraska. We decided to grab breakfast and look over data, to decided on an exact target. We decided to pass on the higher potential in the Arkansas area and instead chase across the NE/KS/MO area. We left Wichita with an initial target area in the Salina/Topeka area.
While heading northeast and pushing into El Dorado, KS a cumulus field quickly started to develop to our northwest along the dryline, which was just west of Salina at this time. We started to maneuver our way northwest towards what was now a developing area of showers/storms. After being on this area of activity for a while it started to weaken, and we decided to head farther northwest, with more storms starting to develop across C. Nebraska. While heading northwest towards the KS/NE border there were a dew attempts at storm development near us, but nothing ever held.
Eventually sustained storms develop across Nebraska and became severe and tornado warned. A severe storm also developed well to our east. Crossing the KS/NE border a quick decision was made to pass on the storm to the east and instead catch the developing storms across S-C. Nebraska. We made a play on several storms and received small hail from some, but the storms never amounted to much and weakened. At this point we had made it up to Hastings, NE and decided to head east towards the storm we decided to pass on now, which was a nice supercell and was severe warned.
Heading northeast we ended up catching the storm near Clarks, NE. We headed east, passing through the north side of the storm, before pulling off just west of Osceola, NE to watch the storm. As it passed we encountered a bit of hail and some interesting structure. There was also an interesting feature on the backside of the rain shaft. At first it appeared to be scud, but as it backed further out the rain shaft it became clear that it was a tornado. The tornado lasted several minutes before weakening. After the storm passed we headed to Columbus, NE for dinner with several other chaser, including Brad Goddard and Lorraine Mahoney, before heading to Avoca, IA for the night.
Some pictures and video from this chase can be viewed below. Additional pictures can be found in the 2014 photography section.
While heading northeast and pushing into El Dorado, KS a cumulus field quickly started to develop to our northwest along the dryline, which was just west of Salina at this time. We started to maneuver our way northwest towards what was now a developing area of showers/storms. After being on this area of activity for a while it started to weaken, and we decided to head farther northwest, with more storms starting to develop across C. Nebraska. While heading northwest towards the KS/NE border there were a dew attempts at storm development near us, but nothing ever held.
Eventually sustained storms develop across Nebraska and became severe and tornado warned. A severe storm also developed well to our east. Crossing the KS/NE border a quick decision was made to pass on the storm to the east and instead catch the developing storms across S-C. Nebraska. We made a play on several storms and received small hail from some, but the storms never amounted to much and weakened. At this point we had made it up to Hastings, NE and decided to head east towards the storm we decided to pass on now, which was a nice supercell and was severe warned.
Heading northeast we ended up catching the storm near Clarks, NE. We headed east, passing through the north side of the storm, before pulling off just west of Osceola, NE to watch the storm. As it passed we encountered a bit of hail and some interesting structure. There was also an interesting feature on the backside of the rain shaft. At first it appeared to be scud, but as it backed further out the rain shaft it became clear that it was a tornado. The tornado lasted several minutes before weakening. After the storm passed we headed to Columbus, NE for dinner with several other chaser, including Brad Goddard and Lorraine Mahoney, before heading to Avoca, IA for the night.
Some pictures and video from this chase can be viewed below. Additional pictures can be found in the 2014 photography section.
| Chase Statistics: Tornadoes: 1 Wind: 30-40MPH Hail: 0.75" (Penny Size) | SPC Severe Weather Reports:  |
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