May
19, 2024 (Click on images to enlarge)
My son Ryan and I made our way out west once again in anticipation of a multi day storm chase. We met up with our chase partner, Brian Stertz. The Storm Prediction Center issued a Moderate Risk of Severe Storms with a 5% Tornado Risk.
We got an early start toward our target city of Kinsley, Kansas. On the way, we made a side trip to the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife area for some photography opportunities. After a drive through of the wildlife area, we grabbed a quick lunch in Hoisington, Kansas at the Pizza Hut. As we finished up lunch, our attention turned to a cell that had fired and went Severe Warned to our north near Hays, Kansas. We decided to head that way to take a closer look. On the way there, the storm became Tornado Warned and it became obvious to us, this storm latched onto the warm front and would continue to remain strong long term.
As we pulled up to Interstate 70, we moved west to the Gorham, Kansas exit.
We pulled off the highway and found an open spot to watch the storm come toward us. The wall cloud had strong rotation as it came over us and showed several funnel clouds.
As the storm began overtaking us, we moved back east on Interstate 70, then south on 181, then east again through Susank, Kansas to stay out in front of the storm. As we moved east, the word "Tornado" rings out in the car. Up to the north of us, a narrow tornado drops down from the clouds.
As the tornado dissipated, the tornado threat was decreasing drastically as heavy rain became the main focus of the storm, so we began our trip back home. We worked our way back back to Interstate 70 and then eastward as daylight turned to night. The rain continued the entire way, but as we neared Topeka, Kansas, the storm began taking on a hurricane look on radar as bands of rain wrapped up in a big circulation.
We were a bit surprised when out in front of us, we began seeing Tornado Warnings pop up in the banding of the system in the heavy rain. At one point, power flashes were observed from the tornado warning in front of us. It became more of a game of tornado avoidance as we drove eastward.
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Day 1 of a 3 Day Trip - 1,814 Miles