Hello.
As chase-worthy storms are going to be at a premium we've headed to Teton Village in Wyoming, for some sightseeing. Tomorrow we aim to see some of Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks.
Saturday, 3 June 2017
Friday, 2 June 2017
June 1st
Drove 430 miles from Hays, Kansas, to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Just for fun.
Mammatus outside the hotel window in Cheyenne - taken with my iPad.
Thursday, 1 June 2017
May 31st report
Hello.
Today there was a broad marginal to slight risk of severe thunderstorms from portions of the western High Plains east-southeastwards into eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri. A slow-moving frontal boundary was close-by as well as several outflow boundaries.
We decided to target the I-70 corridor to the west of Salina, and headed to Russell for lunch. We then spent several hours there, whilst a number of storms formed south-east of us, near and east of Newton, along an outflow boundary. We held firm, watching a confluence zone near and south-east of Goodland which had gradually deepening convective circulations along it. A couple of showers formed south-east of Colby and so we departed and headed west, past Hays, to WaKeeney. We waited there for a bit as the showers deepened, and became thunderstorms. We then dropped south.
We observed an organised thunderstorm north of Ransom, which exhibited supercell structure for a time, before it become somewhat messier. However, we did observed a brief wall cloud which appeared to be from an occluded low-level mesocyclone.
We dropped further south to Ness City, and then east, and then north to Hays, observing some great lightning.
It was a good chase after a long afternoon waiting for initiation in our target area.
Today there was a broad marginal to slight risk of severe thunderstorms from portions of the western High Plains east-southeastwards into eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri. A slow-moving frontal boundary was close-by as well as several outflow boundaries.
We decided to target the I-70 corridor to the west of Salina, and headed to Russell for lunch. We then spent several hours there, whilst a number of storms formed south-east of us, near and east of Newton, along an outflow boundary. We held firm, watching a confluence zone near and south-east of Goodland which had gradually deepening convective circulations along it. A couple of showers formed south-east of Colby and so we departed and headed west, past Hays, to WaKeeney. We waited there for a bit as the showers deepened, and became thunderstorms. We then dropped south.
We observed an organised thunderstorm north of Ransom, which exhibited supercell structure for a time, before it become somewhat messier. However, we did observed a brief wall cloud which appeared to be from an occluded low-level mesocyclone.
We dropped further south to Ness City, and then east, and then north to Hays, observing some great lightning.
It was a good chase after a long afternoon waiting for initiation in our target area.
Random F-14 in WaKeeney, Kansas.
Supercell north of Ransom, KS.
Occluded low-level mesocyclone north of Ness City, KS.
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
May 30th report
Hello.
Not much to report today. We drove from Dodge City to Hutchinson, Kansas, at had lunch there. We were playing a marginal risk of severe storms in eastern Kansas and into Missouri. However, we didn't really want to go too far east for such a marginal risk so we waited at the western edge.
After lunch we drove east to Newton, and waited there for a while. A few showers and storms started to form about 35 miles east so we decided to start heading towards them. We had to drove south on I-135 first. About 10 minutes into this journey, having eyeballed the showers and storms to the east I decided that I couldn't be bothered with this journey! Helen was in agreement so we turned around and headed north towards Salina. A mesoscale discussion was promptly issued by the SPC for the area to the east! However, we'd made our choice so we headed to Salina, and that's where we are for the night.
I have slightly higher hopes for tomorrow's storm chances - some backed surface flow and a boundary should be present across portions of north-central Kansas, and although upper flow is weak, the shear will be close to be reasonable for organised storms and perhaps supercells.
One thing is that this evening is the first evening of the trip where it's actually felt warm - it's still 25C outside just now at 10pm, which is nice!
Not much to report today. We drove from Dodge City to Hutchinson, Kansas, at had lunch there. We were playing a marginal risk of severe storms in eastern Kansas and into Missouri. However, we didn't really want to go too far east for such a marginal risk so we waited at the western edge.
After lunch we drove east to Newton, and waited there for a while. A few showers and storms started to form about 35 miles east so we decided to start heading towards them. We had to drove south on I-135 first. About 10 minutes into this journey, having eyeballed the showers and storms to the east I decided that I couldn't be bothered with this journey! Helen was in agreement so we turned around and headed north towards Salina. A mesoscale discussion was promptly issued by the SPC for the area to the east! However, we'd made our choice so we headed to Salina, and that's where we are for the night.
I have slightly higher hopes for tomorrow's storm chances - some backed surface flow and a boundary should be present across portions of north-central Kansas, and although upper flow is weak, the shear will be close to be reasonable for organised storms and perhaps supercells.
One thing is that this evening is the first evening of the trip where it's actually felt warm - it's still 25C outside just now at 10pm, which is nice!
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
May 29th - report
Hello.
We knew that the risk of severe storms was pretty much zero today, so the goal was basically to find a thunderstorm and just enjoy the experience out on the wide open plains.
We decided to head to the NW Oklahoma Panhandle, choosing Boise City to stop for lunch, having left Amarillo earlier in the day.
Whilst having lunch, thunderstorms were developing over the mountains of NE New Mexico, and we expected these to drift slowly eastwards. After lunch we continued west and then north, pausing to view the distant thunderheads en route.
We arrived at Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, and parked up in the small car park there. By now, the thunderstorms were rather closer, and we started to observe lightning in the distance. Over a period of around an hour or so, we let these storms slowly approach - all around us was quietness, punctuated by the sound of Western Meadowlarks, and crickets. And thunder. The sonorous roll of thunder reverbated around the mesas and hillsides. It was a lovely experience.
As the rain started to arrive, we headed back to Boise City. We decided we would stay in Dodge City, Kansas, and so began the ~160 mile journey. We paused several times en route to view the storms, which slowly followed us. One became severe warned for a time too.
After dinner at Applebee's in Dodge, we saw that lightning was present west of town, so we headed away from the lights to get a few pictures.
All in all it was a very pleasant and relaxing day, taking in the sights and sounds of the High Plains.
We knew that the risk of severe storms was pretty much zero today, so the goal was basically to find a thunderstorm and just enjoy the experience out on the wide open plains.
We decided to head to the NW Oklahoma Panhandle, choosing Boise City to stop for lunch, having left Amarillo earlier in the day.
Whilst having lunch, thunderstorms were developing over the mountains of NE New Mexico, and we expected these to drift slowly eastwards. After lunch we continued west and then north, pausing to view the distant thunderheads en route.
We arrived at Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, and parked up in the small car park there. By now, the thunderstorms were rather closer, and we started to observe lightning in the distance. Over a period of around an hour or so, we let these storms slowly approach - all around us was quietness, punctuated by the sound of Western Meadowlarks, and crickets. And thunder. The sonorous roll of thunder reverbated around the mesas and hillsides. It was a lovely experience.
As the rain started to arrive, we headed back to Boise City. We decided we would stay in Dodge City, Kansas, and so began the ~160 mile journey. We paused several times en route to view the storms, which slowly followed us. One became severe warned for a time too.
After dinner at Applebee's in Dodge, we saw that lightning was present west of town, so we headed away from the lights to get a few pictures.
All in all it was a very pleasant and relaxing day, taking in the sights and sounds of the High Plains.
Thunderstorm rumbling over a mesa, at Black Mesa, Oklahoma.
Thunderstorm in Kansas.
Same storm over a wheat field in Kansas.
CG lightning to the west of Dodge City.
Cloud-cloud lightning west of Dodge City.
Monday, 29 May 2017
May 28th - report
Hi there.
Not much to report from today. We had a quiet day and drove south of Amarillo to the Palo Duro Canyon State Park, and enjoyed a quiet few hours just soaking the sun and scenery.
We're staying another night in Amarillo. After I had a swim and tub we tried the Big Texan for dinner - but it was packed and there was a 45-50 min wait. We decided we couldn't be bothered with that so went to Red Robin for some very nice burgers.
Not much to report from today. We had a quiet day and drove south of Amarillo to the Palo Duro Canyon State Park, and enjoyed a quiet few hours just soaking the sun and scenery.
We're staying another night in Amarillo. After I had a swim and tub we tried the Big Texan for dinner - but it was packed and there was a 45-50 min wait. We decided we couldn't be bothered with that so went to Red Robin for some very nice burgers.
Cactus.
The Lighthouse Rock.
View over the canyon.
Sunday, 28 May 2017
May 28th plan
Hi.
Quiet day today - can't be bothered with heading down to southern Texas so we're staying another night in Amarillo. Just picking up some lunch before we head to the Palo Duro Canyon for the afternoon.
Quiet day today - can't be bothered with heading down to southern Texas so we're staying another night in Amarillo. Just picking up some lunch before we head to the Palo Duro Canyon for the afternoon.
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