This was the first chase on the season.
I left home in the morning and made it out into the target area by mid-afternoon. Cells quickly developed in SE. Nebraska, and pushed northeast into SW. Iowa. I targeted one of the discrete cells which was pushing through Nebraska City, NE at the time. Internet/cell coverage wasn't the best out in this area, but I was able to get enough data to make a play on this cell as it progressed through SW. Iowa.
I spotted an initial wall cloud to my NW, which was be a few miles north of Stanton, IA. I then moved a bit north on Route 71 to get a better view on the storm. By this point the initial wall cloud had dissipated and the storm was moving overhead. At this point I was near Morton Mills, IA where I let the cell pass, sat, took pictures and then began playing the tail end cell from the main tornadic supercell. I then proceeded to head east on farm roads before stopping again for more pictures. At this point I saw some interesting looking cloud features/scud (inflow tail) off to my NE. After hearing other chaser account and NWS survey info, it appears this was the general area the Massena tornado was occurring. After seeing that the southern tail end cell wasn't doing anything I once again continued east to try and make a play on the supercell approaching Creston, IA. I was almost due north of the cell when the first tornado was reported. I was never able to fully get ahead of it until it was weakening as it approached Osceola, IA. After reviewing more info, I now realize that I was close enough and in a position that I probably would have been able to see the tornado if on a hill...in the hilly terrain in this area. After making it to I-35 I found a hill near New Virginia, IA and watched as the line of severe storms associated with the cold front approached. This line featured a nice looking shelf cloud and the lightning was spectacular...probably within the top 3 lightning shows I have witnessed.
Even though I missed two tornadoes just by a bit, I was fairly happy with the chase given it was the first on the season and the internet issues I had.
Some pictures and video from this chase can be viewed below. Additional pictures can be found in the 2011 photography section.
I left home in the morning and made it out into the target area by mid-afternoon. Cells quickly developed in SE. Nebraska, and pushed northeast into SW. Iowa. I targeted one of the discrete cells which was pushing through Nebraska City, NE at the time. Internet/cell coverage wasn't the best out in this area, but I was able to get enough data to make a play on this cell as it progressed through SW. Iowa.
I spotted an initial wall cloud to my NW, which was be a few miles north of Stanton, IA. I then moved a bit north on Route 71 to get a better view on the storm. By this point the initial wall cloud had dissipated and the storm was moving overhead. At this point I was near Morton Mills, IA where I let the cell pass, sat, took pictures and then began playing the tail end cell from the main tornadic supercell. I then proceeded to head east on farm roads before stopping again for more pictures. At this point I saw some interesting looking cloud features/scud (inflow tail) off to my NE. After hearing other chaser account and NWS survey info, it appears this was the general area the Massena tornado was occurring. After seeing that the southern tail end cell wasn't doing anything I once again continued east to try and make a play on the supercell approaching Creston, IA. I was almost due north of the cell when the first tornado was reported. I was never able to fully get ahead of it until it was weakening as it approached Osceola, IA. After reviewing more info, I now realize that I was close enough and in a position that I probably would have been able to see the tornado if on a hill...in the hilly terrain in this area. After making it to I-35 I found a hill near New Virginia, IA and watched as the line of severe storms associated with the cold front approached. This line featured a nice looking shelf cloud and the lightning was spectacular...probably within the top 3 lightning shows I have witnessed.
Even though I missed two tornadoes just by a bit, I was fairly happy with the chase given it was the first on the season and the internet issues I had.
Some pictures and video from this chase can be viewed below. Additional pictures can be found in the 2011 photography section.
| Chase Statistics: Tornadoes: 0 Wind: 50-60MPH Hail: 1.00" (Quarter size) | SPC Severe Weather Reports:  |
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