Topic: Severe storms near Clayton New Mexico June 2 2006

[Jimmy Deguara]

We were onto the storms in NE New Mexico near Clayton and were impressed by the powering updrafts. We also got the next storm north of the border that became severe warned later in the afternoon and evening. It represented some good shear on the Baron - I am not inclined to suggested it was all outflow dominant but very high based. We had some strong inflow at some stages.

Some pictures of this event:







Sheriffnado - should make good timelapse





Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Michael Bath]

The rest of the photos for 2nd June are here:

http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/new/jd20060607.html

[Geoff Thurtell]

Forgive me for asking, but what is a"sheriffnado"??

Regards,

Geoff

[Jimmy Deguara]

"Sheriffnado" was a term coined when tornado reports were submitted by sheriffs particularly in certain parts of the country. A high concentration of these reports were not legitamite and often scuds or perhaps rain curtains that look like tornadoes and reported as such.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[nzstorm]

Interesting to see the photos of this storm Jimmy. We were visiting Taos and Sante Fe on this day and I noticed the development of this storm on the satellite and was disappionted I missed it.

Back in New Zealand now. 14days chasing in USA was great. We saw impressive storms on most days. 

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi Steven,

This was an interesting day given the less than adequate wind shear for supercells. It was a slow start with relatively weak high based cells.

We initially ignored the cell to the north because it was not doing much compared to the storms near Clayton. It then intensified and given I could make out some structure in the distance, we left our storms and headed for the northern cell. This maintained fairly intense echoes and shear markers on the Baron WX for at least an hour and a half. If only the bases were lower...

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[nmoir]

are you calling me a real sheriff? , I was with jimmy on this day and when going through my shots back in oz saw the sherrifnado too ,
here is a shot ,

Nick Moir

[nzstorm]

Great photo there Nick. Certainly some vorticity there. Perhaps this is a non mesocyclonic tornado (landspout) but it could be mesocyclonic. Well done on capturing it.

[David C]

Great photo there Nick. Certainly some vorticity there. Perhaps this is a non mesocyclonic tornado (landspout) but it could be mesocyclonic. Well done on capturing it.

Mmmm...... looks to be the rain shafts playing a trick to me!

You're right about the steep lapse rates -- powerful updrafts.

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi David,

Despite our fears of sherifnado, the precipitation curtains looked to be rotating for a while but it was not clear. The feature in question appeared for up to a few minutes. This was during the strongest period of shear and inflow. We'll as per usual check the video whcih brings out more of the truth.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Jeff Brislane]

Now I could forgive someone for calling that in as a possible tornado. That's the most tube like sherrifnado i've ever seen.

[Brad Hannon]

Hello all, Sherriff Brad here )  Nick you can be my deputy - i dont think you're up to the big job mate.

I too have pics of that tube like feature in the rain curtain.  My timelapse video also shows some weak rotation in the rain curtain.  If nothing else it is very picturesque.

[Jimmy Deguara]

Brad,

Jeff and I watched the footage in fast forward and it definitely shows rotation but the feature definitely looks like a dense curtain of rain. If only bases were lower on the day. Inflow at the time of this feature and rotation was quite strong.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara