Hi guys,
After a long a tiring trip, I arrived in Texas during the mid-afternoon period - left the 14th April and arrived evening 14th April US central time. 20 something hours of no sleep.
I checked the models and agreed that there was an exciting scenario for southeast Nebraska. Fairly powerful wind shear dynamics were to be in place with rapid destabilsation as a short wave ejected across from western Nebraska. Only one issue: we had to get from Dallas to Nebraska - 9.5 hour trip and I anticipated mid afternoon action. One solution - 4:00am start.
We made it across the border by 2:30pm and had a long awaited lunch. Simultaneously, towers finally erupted with anvils streaming east. We left Aurburn and headed west. Storms were observed to the southwest and west. We took interest of the southern storm - the storms typically moving at 50 to 60 miles per hour!
After observing the storm which was noted as severe for about 15 minutes we decided to head back to town to fuel. No fuel in town so we found a vantage point. To our astonishment, a wall cloud was visible in the distance. Given the windshear, every effort was taken to head to the storm as quickly as possible knowing it could drop a tornado quickly. Whilst in transit, we observed major funnel (more than to thirds of the way to the ground from our perspective) and this was reported on the NOAA radio as a confirmed tornado with a dust plume rising. Yes a tornado on the first day! Ray enjoyed the dust plume rising to the tornado as described in the NOAA report. I was concentrated on driving hence only saw the tornado (video unclear and shaky thence no footage of tornado).
The supercell structure (I filmed timelapse this from after the tornado dissipated or rainwrapped) was incredible despite its transition into an HP - a constant thunder rumble audible. And what about the inflow - this was quite strong in the beginning but intensified as the storm was situated NW of our location. Raindrops finally spoiled the party.
Heading east, another storm developed in amongst several others with a consolidated base. Thinking that the outflow from a storm directly to its south would interrupt the inflow to this storm, it was dismissed. We could have intercepted the tornado it produced east of Auburn but were intent on chasing a larger tornadic storm further south. Storms were moving too rapidly so the best position we got to was of a tornado that was rainwrapped in northeastern Kansas.
After this, we enjoyed a lightning show just west of St Joseph.
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
