April 23, 2010 Storm Chase
by Benjamin Tillotson
Monday, April 26, 2010, 1:56pm
Luke and I sat in under a very nice cumulus field all afternoon waiting for what wasn't going to happen till late in the day and way east of our target due to a stronger cap than forecasted.
NWS broadcasted a tornado watch for much of NE by about 1:00pm that afternoon. I have to admit the cumulus was beginning to look impressive in our area. That's as far as it got though. I think the only real supercells that organized in the whole state were east of that watch box. I was first drawn toward Omaha because that was the first convection I saw all day and just wanted something. Once close enough to that storm though I saw how unorganized everthing was there so we went south to some better looking storms west of Nebraska City. Sort of wasted time and gas going to the Omaha stuff. Oh well...
The cells between Nebraska City and Lincoln.
There was one point where it looked like the north cell could almost produce but it never got around to it. Some chasers reported a funnel and possible tornado on the south cell but we didn't see that. We probably just weren't looking.
This is a three image stitch showing both the north and south cells.
Mostly tried to keep up with the north cell as best as we could.
It was getting dark fast. Tried to stay close to the storm on gravel roads. Almost hit a deer in the process.
After driving through west Omaha (bad idea) and getting annoyed by not finding a good place to stop we drove west through the first line of storms then dropped south toward Wahoo and got some good shots of lightning on the backside of these storms.
Cool lightning always makes up for a not so great chase I guess.
Might be another chase day this Thursday.
Mon, Apr 26, 2010, 2:54pmLesNice photos! Looks like you guys had fun even without a tornado. The lightning was impressive in Central City too. I was hoping the weather would get really bad so I'd be stuck in Holdrege with the girls, but it just didn't happen. :(
Mon, Apr 26, 2010, 3:38pmSarahWow dude those last three are awesome. I also really like the stitched picture. :D
Mon, Apr 26, 2010, 11:43pmLinda BI especially love the last three pix. What kind of clouds do you call those?
Mon, Apr 26, 2010, 11:44pmLinda BWhat's a "stitched" picture?
Tue, Apr 27, 2010, 8:23am##;8Linda, I'm not exactly sure what kind of clouds those are. They are lower than the anvil of the storm and aren't exactly storm related so I don't know what they are. Any clouds that aren't storm related I really don't know. :P A stitched picture is a panoramic made of several images. I use software to "stitch" the images together.
Tue, Apr 27, 2010, 8:25am##;8BTW the last three photos are longer exposers (like 40 seconds). That is why the clouds look like they do.
Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 3:22pmLukeThat was so much FUN!!
Thu, Apr 29, 2010, 1:07pmMilkwoodGreat Job!
Sat, May 15, 2010, 3:10pmNoah RidgeGreat photos!
Sat, May 15, 2010, 3:11pmNoah RidgeYes I am looking at the blog!
Sat, May 15, 2010, 8:31pm##;1Yay! Welcome to our blog, Noah! :)
Mon, May 17, 2010, 10:53pmEsteGood pictures Benjamin - You have a great Tallent the Lord has surely blessed you
