Chase Log - 2005
Day 4 - Colorado, Kansas
Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Miles Driven: 600
Chase Rating: 10 / 10
Details:
Scott and I woke up this morning in Imperial Nebraska at the Super 8. The people there were kind enough to give us a 10% discount for being storm chasers. After checking data Scott, Mark, Fabian and I decided to head toward Wray, Colorado. We arrived in Wray around noon and stopped at a strip mall to get some data.
About 10 minutes after we parked in Wray the DOW team came into town. They had the rapid scan truck, and one of their other DOW trucks. The TIV (Tornado Intercept Vehicle) was in the convoy along with a chase tour group. We took some pictures of the DOW and TIV before finding another location in town with WIFI access. We had to drive around for a few minutes, but we were able to find data so we could refine our target area. The decision was made to head south to Idalia Colorado.
Unbelievably we found a rare shade tree to park under while we waited for storms to fire. We played Frisbee for an hour or so and hung out. The Principal and a teacher of the Idalia School came and talked with us. They asked if we would be in town tomorrow and if we’d mind coming to speak to their school. We would have gladly done it for them, but it didn’t look like we were going to be in the state tomorrow. Maybe we’ll have time next year.
Not too long after talking to the teachers we headed west to Joes Colorado then turned north onto CR F (59). About 12 miles north of Joes we turned left and continued west. From here we could see a nice supercell to our northwest traveling towards us. We turned south towards Wiladel, Colorado and found a great place to stop and film the storm.
To our north there was a supercell base that was really getting its act together. Five minutes after deploying our cameras a wall cloud began to take shape. I’ve never seen a wall cloud form so fast. Within 2 minutes it went from a high based storm to a huge menacing wall cloud. About 5 minutes after the wall cloud formed Mark yelled “look to the north!” Tornado #1 was on the ground and I repositioned my camera to see it better. It was on the ground for about 1 or 2 minutes before lifting. I doubt it was very strong, but a tornado nonetheless.
Right after the tornado lifted we had to pack up before the HUGE RFD hit us. The RFD winds must have been very strong, because it was coming at us in a hurry. We shot south 10 miles to Wiladel and then turned east. At this point in the chase there were supercells everywhere it seemed. We had to work hard to stay out of their path. We zigzagged southeast until we stopped in Burlington Colorado. There were supercells nipping on our heels, but we had to get some fuel.
We left Burlington on I-70 east with many other storm chasers and tour groups. Colorado interstate speed limits are 75, so we were really able to move! Mark and I decided that we would try and intercept the far southern cell in Colorado. In order to intercept that cell we went to Goodland Kansas and then traveled south on US-27. Once in Tribune Kansas we turned back west on US-96.
We crossed into Colorado near Towner and were met with the most beautiful supercell I’ve ever seen. It was perfectly laminar with a long curved beaver tail that extended for several miles. The wall cloud was clearly visible under the storm. There were more stacked plates than I could even count. Mark and I turned left (south) onto CR-27 and stopped 1.2 miles down the country road. We stepped out to film the most amazing supercell I’ve ever seen in my life. I measured sustained inflow winds at 51 mph. Check out the video, it speaks for itself.
The storm had turned straight south and it was getting a little too close for comfort. We headed south to get out of the inflow winds. We had a few gusts that were probably around 65 mph while traveling south. A couple miles down the road we turned right (west) and went in front of this amazing storm. At this point we can clearly see what appears to be a large wedge tornado on the ground. All four of us watched it intently to make sure it was a tornado. We all agreed that it was a wedge tornado. The video shows what we are talking about.
We continued west on the country road and stopped at the intersection of 385 to shoot more video. There could have still been a tornado on the ground at this point, but the dust and low light made it very difficult to see. The storm got pretty close to us again so we headed south on 385 for a few miles. We passed a lot of chasers on the way south.
It was starting to get dark and difficult to see anything so we called off the chase. We spent the night in Clayton New Mexico for some well deserved rest.
We all agree that the tornado was on the ground. I don’t think it was down very long, or that it was very strong. I’d estimate it was between ½ and 1/3 miles wide. It was only in wheat fields so there won’t be too much evidence of it. Anyone looking from the west side of the wall cloud would not have been able to see it due to the dust and intense RFD. It looked like we were in the right place at the right time to see this one.
What a great day though, it was enough to make our 2005 trip worthwhile even with this weather pattern.
Conclusion:
This is the best chase I've ever had. Two tornadoes in this crappy weather pattern means that we were very lucky.
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Videos
Title |
Description |
Download |
| Tornado 1 | This was the first tornado we saw on our trip. It wasn't very strong or big, but was definately a tornado! We were looking north and the stroms were moving southeast. This is in southern Yuma County Colorado. |
Quicktime 6 High (15,243 k) Medium (7,992 k) Real Media 9 High (14,018 k) Medium (7,073 k) Windows Media 9 High (15,538 k) Medium (8,014 k) |
| Tornado 2 | Words cannot describe our experience with this southernmost supercell. I've never seen structure like this in my life. Inflow winds were around 50 mph sustained. No wonder it put a huge wedge tornado on the ground! |
Quicktime 6 High (26,876 k) Medium (14,180 k) Real Media 9 High (24,634 k) Medium (12,425 k) Windows Media 9 High (27,627 k) Medium (14,165 k) |
Weather Events
| Time | Event | Location | Detail | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:38 PM | Tornado | 6 ESE of Sheridan Lake Colorado | Large wedge tornado on the ground. Estimated size is 1/3 to 1/2 mile wide. | 38.25440 | 99.99999 |
| 5:00 PM | Tornado | Washington County, Colorado | Small tornado touchdown. On the ground for about 1 minute 30 seconds. | 39.54550 | 99.99999 |